US3656669A

US3656669A - Glove turning apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3656669A
Application number: US24092A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clayton E Conklin; Antonio Ledesma Jr; Moises R Bautista
Original assignee: Wells Lamont Corp
Current assignee: Marmon Holdings Inc; Marmon Co
Priority date: 1970-03-31
Filing date: 1970-03-31
Publication date: 1972-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 1989-04-18

Abstract

Apparatus is disclosed for turning a glove after the glove has been sewn, stitched or otherwise fastened wrong-side-out, and is to be turned back on itself. The wrong-side-out glove to be reversed or turned is mounted on finger tubes and the finger tubes are then brought into alignment with rods projecting in opposition to the tubes. The finger tubes and the oppositely positioned rods are grouped and aligned to permit insertion of either set into the fingers and thumb of the glove to be turned, depending on whether the glove is wrong-side-out or right-sideout. After the glove is mounted on the finger tubes, the opposing rods are brought towards the tube tips such that the ends of the rods are in contact with or adjacent to the tips of the fingers and thumb of the mounted glove. The wrist portion of the glove is reversed for a short distance to permit gripping thereof by means movable in either direction parallel to the orientation of the tubes and rods. The latter means is then retracted to pull the glove backward over the rods so that the rods enter the fingers and thumb of the glove.

Description

[151 3,656,669 [451 Apr. 18,1972

United States Patent Conklin et al.

[541 GLOVE TURNING APPARATUS [72] Inventors: Clayton E. Conklin; Antonio Ledesma, Jr.;

Moises R. Bautista, all of El Paso, Tex.

rods enter the lingers and thumb of the glove.

Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney-Johnson, Dienner, Emrch, Verbeek & Wagner 14 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 181972 y 3,656,669

SHEET l UF 3 8 am??? r f5 DIU)- rrOXf 300::

-lNvE/vron CLAYTONy E. CONKLIN, ANTONIO LEDESMA,JR. amonsl-:s BAUTISTA y PATNTEDAPR 18 i912 25 4`5 ,b l5) le fla 4 I IC5 SHEET 2 UF 3 INVENTOR' CLAYTON E. CONKLIN 8| MOISES BAUTISTA Baqwmmm ATTORN E ANTONIO LEDESMAJFS.

PATENIED APR 181m sum 3 0F 3 HUT vmuUll- No.

IIL IIL l/VVENTOR CLAYTON E. CONKLIN, ANTONIO LEDESMA,JR. 8x MOISES BAUTISTA GLOVE TURNING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION i out condition in the form generally desirable for marketing purposes. Most of these prior art machines have consisted of generally complex apparatus which perform the function of glove turning in a very slow manner, and which are relatively expensive toroperate. Usually, the fingers (and the thumb) are turned one ata time, such as by sequentially forcing the fingers of the `unturned glove into tubes on which the glove is mounted. Moreover, the prior art machines are relatively dangerous to operate sincein many instances they have been implemented with a plurality of projecting members which rotate during the glove turning operation. For example, in one type of priorart machine, several gloves are placed on respective sets of projecting tubes or rods, each set formed in the shape of a hand, and these sets are rotated as each glove is turned in sequence. Suchapparatus subjects the machine operator to the danger of having an article of his clothing snagged by the rotating projecting members.

Another disadvantage of the glove turning machines of the prior art is that they often fail to positively discharge the turned gloves, either permitting a glove which has notrbeen discharged to be caught by a portion of the rotating machinery, and thus cause jamming `of the machine, or failing to completely turn `the .glove right-side-out so that a further manual operation is required. Sill further, in some of the prior art machines ,incomplete glove turning occurs because the tips of the fingers and the thumb of the glove are not fully turned when the turning process iscompleted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a principal `object of the present -invention to provide glove turning apparatus in whichall of the fingers and the thumb of each glove are fully turned in a single continuous and efficient operation.

lt is another object of the present invention to provide glove turning apparatus which is much less complex than the prior art glove turning machines, and which operates in a much more efficient manner than the prior art machines.

Still another objectof the present invention is to provide glove turning apparatus which effects the turning of each glove in a very rapid operation, unlike that characterizing the operation of prior art machines.

A further object of the present invention is to provide glove turning apparatus which is effective to perform its function without subjecting the operator of the apparatus to safety hazards.

Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, the glove turning apparatus comprises a plurality of tubes, and respective opposing rods which are aligned with the tubes. At least five sets of aligned tubes and rods are utilized so that at least one glove may betumed during each cycle of the machine. The five tubes on one side of the apparatus, and the five rods on the other, are positioned to correspond generally to the positions of the fingers and thumb of the glove to b e turned. The rods andthe tips of the tubes are arranged for reciprocation, i.e.,` to be actuated in either direction along their respective axes.

A clamping carriage also movable axially in either direction has a pair of projecting elements thereon which may be posiv tioned with the tubes disposed therebetween. Fluidically actuated pistons disposed in opposing relationship at right angles to the axes of the tubes and rods, are arranged to engage and 2 disengage the projecting elements depending on the direction in which those pistons are actuated.

The group of tubes may be pivoted upwardly from the condition of alignment with the finger rods when the glove turning operation is initiated by the operator, to permit mounting the glove. The wrong-side-out glove is thereupon placed on the finger tubes such that the tubes extend into the ngers and thumb of the glove, and the wrist portion of the glove is reversed for a short distance to form what may be referred to as a cuff. Thereafter, the group of tubes is returned to the condition of alignment with the rods, so that the fingers and thumb of the glove into which the tubes extend are aligned with the axes of the respective rods. In order to initiate the cycle of timed operation of the glove turning apparatus, the operator must depress a pair of switches which are actuable only with both hands, as a safety precaution. The tube tips and the rods are automatically extensible to a position of contact between the tips of the fingers and thumb of the glove and the ends of the respective rods, to force the tips of the fingers and thumb onto and against the tips of the tubes. In timed sequence, the clamping carriage is moved over the mounted glove until the projecting elements on the carriage enter the cuff formed by the reversed wrist portion of the glove, and the pistons on the clamping carriage are actuated to grip the cuff, at opposite sides thereof, against the respective projecting elements. The carriage is then moved back toward its original position such that the glove is pulled toward and onto the rods. Each rod thereby enters the respective finger (or thumb) with which it is aligned. The rods are then retracted in sequence, with first the thumb rod, then the little linger rod, and then the remaining fingers being withdrawn, so that none of the fingers or the thumb will be tom during the single continuous turning operation. The retractable tips on the finger tubes are extended to force the finger tips of the glove from the tubes and thereby to discharge the turned glove from the apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING:

The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present `invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the glove turning apparatus, especially with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the mechanical portion ofthe glove turning apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. l;

FIG.- 3 is a side view ofthe apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the lines 4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the electrical and fluidic system, the latter in pertinent part only, by which the apparatus of FIGS. 1 through 4 is operated;

FIG. 6 is a timing diagram; and

FIGS. 7(a), (b), (c), (d) are simplified views showing the sequence of operation involved in the turning of a glove.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

Referring now to FIGS. 1, A2 and 3, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like pans in the several views, the glove turning apparatus includes a base 10 for supporting the various other components. Normally, the base 10 will lie in a horizontal plane, although this is not essential and it will be understood that when further reference ismade to horizontal and vertical orientation it is for the sake of example only. A pair of

vsupport plates

12, 13 project vertically, i.e., perpendicularly, from base 10 to support five rods l5, 16, 17, 18, 19 which extend transversely through the support plates l2, 13 and parallel to the base 10. These rods are arranged for reciprocation under the control of fluidically actuated cylinders 20 fastened to the rear support plate 13. Hoses 22 are coupled to the cylinders 20 to permit air or liquid, depending respectively upon whether the cylinders are pneumatically or hydraulically actuated, to be furnished thereto or withdrawn therefrom.

The rods 15-19, inclusive, are grouped in an arrangement resembling the positions of the outstretched ngers and thumb of a hand. Upon actuation of the respective cylinders 20 the rods 15-19 may be translated in either direction along their respective axes, parallel to base 10, depending upon the nature of that actuation. That is to say, the rods are mounted in the

support plates

12 and 13 in respective holes, so that the rods can be extended or retracted, as desired.

A clamping carriage 25 is also mounted for movement backward or forward along an axis parallel to base on a pair of axially projecting

rails

27 and 28. The

rails

27 and 28 extend through holes in support plate 12, with rail 27 also extending through an aligned hole in support plate 13. Rail 28 is a piston rod which projects from a fluidically actuated cylinder 30 mounted between

support plates

12 and 13. When cylinder 30 is actuated to extend rail 28, the clamping carriage 25 moves axially away from support plate 12 and cam'es with it rail 27 which serves to provide desired stability or orientation of the .clamping carriage.

The clamping carriage 25 supports a pair of brackets 32 and 33, each of which has an axially projecting

arm

35, 36 respectively, disposed at either side of a central hole 38 in the clamping carriage 25. Hole 38 has sufficient dimensions to permit passage therethrough of rods -19, inclusive, when those rods are extended or the clamp carriage is retracted. In addition, hole 38 is sufficiently large to accommodate a set of finger tubes to be described presently. The projecting

members

35 and 36 are preferably tapered at their respective free ends for a purpose to be described, and each is provided on its interior surface with a

semicylindrical groove

40, 41, respectively. The

other arms

43, 44, of brackets 32, 33, respectively, support fluidically actuated

cylinders

45, 46, respectively. Extending from each of the latter cylinders is a rod having a

cylindrical member

47, 48 which extends laterally to the axis (and perpendicular to base 10) of the overall configuration of the glove turning apparatus thus far described. Each of the

cylindrical members

47 and 48 cooperates with the respective

semicylindrical groove

40 and 41 to constitute gripping means. When the respective rods to which the cylindrical members are coupled are extended the latter are brought to bear against the respective grooves.

Further along the base l0 another support member 50 projects perpendicularly and transversely thereto. A further support plate 52 is pivotally coupled to support member 50 and is connected by a rod 53 to a fluidically actuated cylinder 54. Cylinder 54 is fastened to the base member or to an extension thereof at an angle of inclination such that when the rod 53 is retracted within cylinder 54 the support plate 52 pivots about its coupling, in a direction away from clamping carriage 25. Five fluidically actuated cylinders 56 are mounted at the rear of support plate 52.

Projecting perpendicularly to the support plate and aligned with respective cylinders 56 are five

finger tubes

58, 59, 60, 61, 62. These tubes are also arranged, like rods 15-19, in an array resembling the positions and alignment of the extended fingers and thumb of a glove, but in a reversed arrangement to that of the rods. That is, if rods 15 through 19 resemble the outstreched fingers and thumb of a right hand, then tubes 58 through 62 resemble the outstreched fingers and thumb of a left hand. Support plate 52 is arranged such that when it is in a vertical plane, i.e., in a plane perpendicular to base 10, the finger tubes 58 through 62 are aligned with rods 15 through 19, respectively, along the respective axes thereof. As previously observed, the hole 38 in clamping carriage 25 is sufficiently dimensioned to admit tubes 58 through 62 therethrough.

The arrangement or grouping of the tubes 58-62 is more clearly seen by reference to FIG. 4, which is a view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 2. This arrangement of the tubes corresponds to the arrangement or grouping of the rods 15-19, inclusive, except for the aforementioned reversal. That is, the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-4 is to be used for turning right hand gloves, and hence, the tubes 58-62 are arranged in a left hand array, whereas the rods 15-19 are arranged in a right hand array, aligned with and opposed to the tubes, for reasons which will become apparent from the subsequent description of operation. Each of tubes 58-62 is hollow, and has an extensible-retractible tip 64-68, respectively, that normally projects from the end of the tube as a tapered or conical portion. Each of these tips is coupled to a respective cylinder 56 by a cylinder rod (not shown) within the respective tube, for extension or retraction according to the nature of the actuation of the cylinder. The length of the tubes themselves and the extent of their projection from support plate 52 is fixed. When the fluidically actuated cylinders 56 are appropriately actuated it is only the tips within the tubes that can be retracted or extended.

The electrical system utilized for operating the glove turning apparatus of FIGS. 1-4, is shown in FIG. 5. For the sake of example it is assumed that each of the cylinders is pneumatically actuated, and therefore the schematic diagram of FIG. 5 shows the electrical system and the air lines, the fonner being solid and the latter being dotted. Referring to FIG. 5, the electrical power for operating the glove turning apparatus is obtained from a power supply which is connected to a commercial source of AC voltage such as volts at 60 hz via a pull on-push ofi` switch 102. Power supply 100 is connected to the contact arm of a foot operated switch 103 such that normally this arrn rests against a contact connected to a pair of normally open switches 104 and 105. However, when the operator depresses the foot pedal, the arm of switch 103 is brought against another contact to supply power to a solenoid operated valve 107 via a driver stage 108. The solenoid operated valve 107 is coupled to an air line 109 for cylinder 54. When the operator releases the foot pedal, the arm of switch 103 returns to its normal position against the first contact so that thereafter, when switches 104 and 105 are both operated to an on condition, a timing sequence is initiated in which operation of the valves is selectively and sequentially initiated to operate the various cylinders in a manner to automatically effect the glove turning operation. Power is supplied in parallel to

timers

110, 111, 112, and 114 to start those timers and to supply power to the respective solenoid operated valves. In particular, power is supplied to solenoid valve 115 through driver stage 116, to solenoid valve 117 through driver stage 118, to solenoid valve 119 through driver stage 120 and to solenoid valve 121 through driver stage 122. In this manner, the cylinders 20 are actuated to extend the

finger rods

15, 16, 17 and 18 and the thumb rod 19 simultaneously with the actuation of cylinder 30 to extend the clamping carriage 25.

At the same time, power is supplied to timer 113, but no power is provided to driver stage 126 until the timed period of timer 113 has elapsed. At the instant the latter period is concluded, one shot multivibrator 127, which is triggered at the falling edge of the pulse concident with the period of timer 113, supplies a pulse to actuate timer 129 and simultaneously therewith supplies power to solenoid operated valves 130 and 131. Operation of valve 130 actuates

cylinders

45 and 46 to extend the

respective members

47 and 48 against the respective

semicylindrical grooves

40 and 41. Operation of valve 131 actuates cylinders 56 to simultaneously retract the tips associated with tubes 58-62.

The timing sequence is best observed by reference to FIG. 6. Foot switch 103 is initially operated to actuate cylinder 54 and thereby to pivot support plate 52 from its normal upright position to a position in which the tubes 58-62 are substantially inclined relative to base 10. This gives the operator complete access to the ends of those tubes in a safe manner, to place the fingers and thumb of the glove over the tubes at the beginning of a cycle. The foot switch 103 is then released to cause extension of the rod 53 from cylinder 54, and thereby to return the support plate 52 to its upright position. When plate 52 is vertical, the nger tubes 58-62 are axially aligned with finger rods 15-19, respectively. It is to be emphasized that the support plate 52 must be returned to its upright (vertical) formed by foot switch 103. The operator must then remove l bothf'hands-from the vicinity of the movable apparatus in order to simultaneously actuate the pair of thumb switches 104 and 105. This is of considerable importance from thestandpoint of safety.

It will be observed from the timing diagram that the only significance inthe timing of the operation of cylinder 54 is that the associated rod 53 be retracted and extended to tilt and return plate 52 to its upright position, before any of the other cylinders are operated. That is, from the standpoint of timing, it is only necessary that the plate 52 be returned to its normal position before any of the timed operations can occur; it is not essential that a specific time interval elapse before these further operations `can occur. Following the return of `plate 52, the clamping carriage 25 is extended until the projecting

arms

35 and 36 on the clamping carriage move to a predetermined point along the length of tubes 58-62, vinwardly of the'ends of the tubes. Simultaneously therewith, the rods -19 are extended'until their ends are `approximately collateral with the walls of the holes in retractable tips 64-68, thereby exerting pressure on the tips of the fingers and thumb of the glove to be turned. Gripping

cylinders

47 and 48 are then Aextended to bear against the respective semicylindrical grooves 40 and 4l,

or against any material caught therebetween. Simultaneously with the extension of the gripping cylinders, the tips 64-58 are retracted within `tubes 58-62 such that the pressure exerted on the tips of the fingers and thumb of the glove by the ends of rods 1519 causes these glove tips to be forced slightly 'into tubes 58-62, respectively, to insure a good, complete turn of the glove.

With continuing reference to the timing diagram of FIG. 6,

v clamping carriage 25 is retracted by cylinder 30 upon conclusion of the timed period of timer 112. As the clamping carriage returns toward support plate 12, the rod 19 associated with the thumb of the glove is retracted first, followed by retraction of rod l5 associated with the little finger of the glove, and ultimately by simultaneous retraction of

rods

16, 17 and 18 associated with the other fingers ofthe glove, for reasons to be discussed presently. Thereafter, the gripping

cylinders

47 and 48 are retracted, and finally the tips 64-68 of the tubes 58-62 are simultaneously extended.

The sequence of operations performed in the turning of a glove will be more clearly understood by reference to FIG. 7 in which parts'(a), (b), (c), and (d) are sequential views illustrating the relationship between the glove and the glove turning apparatus at various points in the glove turning process. In FIG. 7(a), a glove 150 which is to be turned inside out (in the sense that the present inside surface is to be vbrought to the outside) is placed on tubes 58-62 such that those tubes extend into fingers 153-156 and thumb 157, while the tubes are in the inclined position as shown in FIG. 1. It will be observed from FIG. 7(a) that the wrist portion 152 of the glove has been reversed for a short distance to form a cuff, either before or during the mounting of the reversed glove on the tubes.

In FIG. 7( b), rods 15-18 have been extended such that they tend to force the tips of the fingers and thumb of glove 150 against the retractable tips of tubes 58-62, respectively. In addition, clamping carriage 25 has been extended such that the

arms

35 and 36 have reached their predetermined limit adjacent the finger tubes, atwhich point the tapered extremities of the arms and the semicylindrical grooves (e.g., 40 as shown in the Figure) have entered the cuff formed by the turnedback'wrist portion 152, at both sides of glove 150.

In FIG. 7(c), the wrist portion 152 has been gripped by the gripping

means comprising members

47 and 35, and

members

48 and 36, respectively, and has been carried back with the clamping carriage as the latter is retracted, the fingers and thumb of the glove thereby being turned onto the finger rods 15-19 from the finger tubes 58-62. A single finger rod 18 and finger tube 60 are shown in FIG. 7(c) for the sake of clarity. It will be observed that retractable tip 65 associated with finger tube 60 is vin theretracted position, and therefore the tip of finger extends slightly into the central passage in tube 60 as a result of the force exerted thereon by rod 18. This pres sure occurs for each of the fingers and thumb, and thereby insures that a full tum of the glove will be effected.

With reference to FIG. 7(d), when the glove 150 has been completely turned, the retractable tips, one of which, 65, is shown iri that Figure, are extended to force the finger tips from the respective tubes, to thereby-release or discharge the Aglove fror'n the apparatus.

It will be noted from the previous discussion of the timing sequence occurring during the operation of the glove turning apparatus that as the glove turning proceeds, the thumb rod 19 is retracted first followed closely by retraction of the little finger rod 15, and then retraction of the remaining rods 16-18. This lsequential retraction of the thumb and little finger rods prior to the retraction of the remaining finger rods is necessary vto insure that the tips of the thumband little finger of the glove will not be torn as the clamping carriage 25 continues its movement backward to a point at which the glove is fully turned. Alternatively, however, it is to be understood that the lengths of the rods may be appropriately proportioned to dispense with the need for sequential retraction, although the complete turning of the fingers will not be as readily assured in that case.

While we have disclosed a'preferred embodiment of our invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which our invention pertains that variations of the particular details of constructionand operation which have been illustrated and described may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention, as defined in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1..Glove turning apparatus comprising:

a frame, parallel tubes for mounting a glove to be turned, with the fingers and thumb thereof extendedwith the free end of the wrist portion reversed,

said tubes being mounted on said frame, parallel rods mounted on and movable relative to said frame in a direction parallel to said parallel tubes for opposing the tips ofthe fingers and thumb of the mounted glove,

gripping means for positively gripping the reversed wrist portion of the mounted glove, said gripping means being mounted on the frame for movement longitudinally of said tubes to pull the glove away from its mounted position and over said rods, so that the rods enter the respective fingers and thumb thereof,

said gripping means comprising a plurality of pairs of cooperating jaws movable on said frame lengthwise of said reversed wrist portion and being mounted for movement of both jaws of each pair in a direction lengthwise of said tubes, with one jaw of each pair inside the reversed wrist portion and the other jaw of each pair outside the reversed portion, and

means for actuating said gripping means to close said pairs of jaws upon the interposed reversed wrist portion and means to move the gripping means towards the rods and away from the parallel tubes to produce complete reversal of the glove operated upon.

2. The glove turning apparatus according to claim 1, further including:

means mounted on said frame for retracting the rods associated with the thumb and little finger of said glove, in the recited order, as said glove is pulled back upon said rods.

3. The glove turning apparatus according to claim l, further including:

means hingedly connected to said frame for selectively orienting said tubes in a position of non-alignment with said rods, to permit the mounting of said glove on said tubes.

4. The glove turning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

said gripping means further includes a pair of clamping members extensible and retractable in opposition to each other and transversely to the axis of said carriage, further including:

means for moving said arms into said last-named position and thereafter extending said clamping members against the reversed wrist portion of said glove for gripping thereof between respective sets of said clamping members and arms.

6. The glove turning apparatus according to claim l, further including:

cylinder rods in said tubes, said cylinder rods having tips extensible and retractible in said tubes to a position at the tip of the respective tube and to a position withdrawn from the tip of the respective tube, respectively, and

means for extending said first named rods from a position remote from said tubes to a position in which said rods bear against the tips of the fingers and thumb of said glove, and means for thereafter retracting said cylinder rods to permit entry of the tips of said fingers and thumb of said glove into said tubes.

7. The glove turning apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein:

the last-named means further comprises means for extending said cylinder rods when said glove has been turned, to discharge said glove from said apparatus.

8. The glove turning apparatus according to claim 6 35 wherein:

prises the steps of:

mounting said glove with the fingers and thumb thereof extended in substantially parallel array and with the end of the wrist portion reversed,

positioning a set of rods in substantial alignment with respective ones of said fingers and thumb of' said glove, and with the ends of said rods opposing the tips of said respective fingers and thumb of said glove,

gripping the reversed wrist portion of said glove, and

pulling the gripped wrist portion backward over said rods so that said rods enter the respective fingers and thumb of said glove.

l0. The method according to claim 9, further including:

retracting the rods associated with the thumb and little 55 8 finger of said glove, as said gripped wrist portion is pulled back over said rods and before the ends of the remaining rods are fully inserted into the respective remaining fingers of said glove.

11. Glove reversing means comprising a glove supporting form providing substantially parallel tubular members for initially receiving and supporting the fingers and thumb portions, respectively, of a glove to be reversed, said form being adapted to receive upon it the glove to be reversed with the free end of the wrist portion of the glove reversed relative to the main unreversed body of the glove, parallel finger and thumb rods axially aligned with said parallel tubular members, said rods being mounted for reciprocati'on together axially in alignment with said tubular finger supporting members and serving to thrust the tips of the fingers and thumb portions of the unreversed glove into the corresponding tubular members, and glove pulling means mounted for reciprocation on an axis in parallel with the axes of said finger and thumb rods, said pulling means having airs of op .osed jaw means, one jaw means of a pair extending longitudinally inside of the initially reversed free end of the wrist portion and the other jaw means of said pair extending lengthwise outside of the initially reversed wrist portion for pulling the glove from the glove supporting form onto the finger and thumb rods.

l2. The combination of claim 11 and means for moving said gripper means and the engaged reversed wrist portion toward said rods and means extending into a plurality of said tubular supporting members for expelling the ends of the finger tips of the glove from said tubular members.

13. In combination, a main frame, a glove support on said main frame comprising parallel tubular glove finger supporting means movably mounted on the frame, a corresponding group of rods aligned with said tubular finger supporting means and being supported slidably on said main frame to move endwise towards and from said movable supporting means and in alignment therewith, a gripper pulling frame mounted on said main frame and having gripper jaws movable to be disposed on opposite sides of the reversed end of the wrist portion of a glove mounted on said glove support, said gripper jaws being disposed on opposite sides of the glove finger supporting means at the wrist portion of a glove mounted on said glove support, jaws carried on said pulling frame in register with said gripper jaws and movable to cooperate with said gripper jaws to grip the reversed free edge of the wrist portion of a glove carried on said glove support, and means to move said gripper pulling frame to pull the glove progressively under tension from the glove support as it is progressively reversed, onto the rods to insure complete turning of the glove.

14. The glove turning mechanism of claim 13 wherein the glove support is hinged to be swung out of alignment with said rods, to facilitate the placing of the unturned glove upon the glove support with the free end of the wrist portion of the glove in reversed position.

Claims

1. Glove turning apparatus comprising: a frame, parallel tubes for mounting a glove to be turned, with the fingers and thumb thereof extended with the free end of the wrist portion reversed, said tubes being mounted on said frame, parallel rods mounted on and movable relative to said frame in a direction parallel to said parallel tubes for opposing the tips of the fingers and thumb of the mounted glove, gripping means for positively gripping the reversed wrist portion of the mounted glove, said gripping means being mounted on the frame for movement longitudinally of said tubes to pull the glove away from its mounted position and over said rods, so that the rods enter the respective fingers and thumb thereof, said gripping means comprising a plurality of pairs of cooperating jaws movable on said frame lengthwise of said reversed wrist portion and being mounted for movement of both jaws of each pair in a direction lengthwise of said tubes, with one jaw of each pair inside the reversed wrist portion and the other jaw of each pair outside the reversed portion, and means for actuating said gripping means to close said pairs of jaws upon the interposed reversed wrist portion and means to move the gripping means towards the rods and away from the parallel tubes to produce complete reversal of the glove operated upon.

2. The glove turning apparatus according to claim 1, further including: means mounted on said frame for retracting the rods associated with the thumb and little finger of said glove, in the recited order, as said glove is pulled back upon said rods.

3. The glove turning apparatus according to claim 1, further including: means hingedly connected to said frame for selectively orienting said tubes in a position of non-alignment with said rods, to permit the mounting of said glove on said tubes.

4. The glove turning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: said gripping means further includes a carriage movable on said frame and a pair of axially projecting spaced-apart arms for movement with said carriage from a position remote from said tubes to a position adjacent said tubes and over the glove mounted on said tubes during extension of said carriage, and for entry into said reversed wrist portion of said glove, when in the last-named position.

5. The glove turning apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said gripping means further includes a pair of clamping members extensible and retractable in opposition to each other and transversely to the axis of said carriage, further including: means for moving said arms into said last-named position and thereafter extending said clamping members against the reversed wrist portion of said glove for gripping thereof between respective sets of said clamping members and arms.

6. The glove turning apparatus according to claim 1, further including: cylinder rods in said tubes, said cylinder rods having tips extensible and retractible in said tubes to a position at the tip of the respective tube and to a position withdrawn from the tip of the respective tube, respectively, and means for extending said first named rods from a position remote from sAid tubes to a position in which said rods bear against the tips of the fingers and thumb of said glove, and means for thereafter retracting said cylinder rods to permit entry of the tips of said fingers and thumb of said glove into said tubes.

7. The glove turning apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: the last-named means further comprises means for extending said cylinder rods when said glove has been turned, to discharge said glove from said apparatus.

8. The glove turning apparatus according to claim 6 wherein: the means for extending said first-named rods further comprises means for retracting the rods associated with the thumb and little finger of said glove, in that order, as said glove is pulled back upon said rods.

9. The method of turning a glove inside out, which comprises the steps of: mounting said glove with the fingers and thumb thereof extended in substantially parallel array and with the end of the wrist portion reversed, positioning a set of rods in substantial alignment with respective ones of said fingers and thumb of said glove, and with the ends of said rods opposing the tips of said respective fingers and thumb of said glove, gripping the reversed wrist portion of said glove, and pulling the gripped wrist portion backward over said rods so that said rods enter the respective fingers and thumb of said glove.

10. The method according to claim 9, further including: retracting the rods associated with the thumb and little finger of said glove, as said gripped wrist portion is pulled back over said rods and before the ends of the remaining rods are fully inserted into the respective remaining fingers of said glove.

11. Glove reversing means comprising a glove supporting form providing substantially parallel tubular members for initially receiving and supporting the fingers and thumb portions, respectively, of a glove to be reversed, said form being adapted to receive upon it the glove to be reversed with the free end of the wrist portion of the glove reversed relative to the main unreversed body of the glove, parallel finger and thumb rods axially aligned with said parallel tubular members, said rods being mounted for reciprocation together axially in alignment with said tubular finger supporting members and serving to thrust the tips of the fingers and thumb portions of the unreversed glove into the corresponding tubular members, and glove pulling means mounted for reciprocation on an axis in parallel with the axes of said finger and thumb rods, said pulling means having pairs of opposed jaw means, one jaw means of a pair extending longitudinally inside of the initially reversed free end of the wrist portion and the other jaw means of said pair extending lengthwise outside of the initially reversed wrist portion for pulling the glove from the glove supporting form onto the finger and thumb rods.

12. The combination of claim 11 and means for moving said gripper means and the engaged reversed wrist portion toward said rods and means extending into a plurality of said tubular supporting members for expelling the ends of the finger tips of the glove from said tubular members.