US3777681A

US3777681A - Seaming method and apparatus for goreless panty-hoses

Info

Publication number: US3777681A
Application number: US00198374A
Authority: US
Inventors: T Horita
Original assignee: TAKATORI MACHINERY WORKS Ltd
Current assignee: TAKATORI MACHINERY WORKS Ltd
Priority date: 1970-11-19
Filing date: 1971-11-12
Publication date: 1973-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-11
Also published as: GB1365713A; FR2114921A5; DE2156949B2; IT942878B; ES397152A1; NL7115569A; JPS4822773B1; DE2156949A1

Abstract

A pair of stocking materials are sewn and combined into a goreless panty-hose on a circulating or reciprocating template unit which has a pair of template assemblies for upholding and spreading the stocking materials mounted thereon and is accompanied with a cutter assembly for partly slicing the stocking materials upheld by the template assemblies, a sewing machine for seaming together the stocking materials in spread disposition and a mechanism for automatically removing the finished goreless panty-hose from the template unit.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Horita SEAMING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GORELESS PANTY-HOSES [75] Inventor: Teruyuki llorita, Osaka, Japan [73] Assignee: Takatori Machinery Works Ltd.,

Nara-ken, Japan 221 Filed: I Nov. 12,1971 21 App1.N0.: 198,374

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 19,1970 Japan 45/102365 [52] US. Cl... 112/l21.l5, 112/262 [51] Int. Cl D05b 21/00 Field of Search 1l2/2,12l.1l, 121.12, 112/121.15, 121.19, 203, 262; 2/224 R, 239,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Krueger 2/224 R [11] 3,777,681 [5 Dec. 11, 1973 3,675,247 7/1972 Ferrell 2/224 R 3,669,047 6/1972 Hedegaard.... 112/l2l.l5 2,702,014 2/1955 Brownslein 112ll21.l5 1,575,887 3/1926 Zimmerman 1l2/12l.l5

Primary Examiner-Werner l-l. Schroeder Attorney-Woodhams et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A pair of stocking materials are sewn and combined into a goreless panty-hose on a circulating or reciprocating template unit which has a pair of template as semblies for upholding and spreading the stocking materials mounted thereon and is accompanied with a cutter assembly for partly slicing the stocking materials upheld by the template assemblies, a sewing machine for seaming together the stocking materials in spread disposition and a mechanism for automatically removing the finished goreless panty-hose from the template unit.

17 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PATENTEDUEC n 1915 3777.681

sum 01M 13 INVENTOR TAPUI U/f/ HOP/74 ATTO RNEYS PAIENTEUHEC 1 I ma 3.777.681 sum as or 13 INVENTOR ZZ'FL/Vl/ff/ e aP/m MZBM %%W ATTORNE PAIENIEBBEB 1 1 can MEI 06 0F 13 INVENTOR TZPC VZ/K/ HOP/74 M KM 2 PAIENTEDUECH 1915 I 3.777.681 sum our 13 INVENTOR ffPlVd/K/ A/aP/ 7Z4 A wZZB M wgw ATTORN EY5 PATENTEDDEC 1 1 ms MEI 11B? 13 INVENTOR TEPLIVfl/f/ HOP/7,4

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ATTORN EYS SEAMING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GORELESS PANTY-HOSES' The present invention relates to improved seaming method and apparatus for goreless panty-hose.

In the conventional manufacturing process of pantyhoses, attachment of the core to the stocking materials is a complicated, troublesome but indispensable work so that the finished panty-hoses fit to a variety of body figures of the users.

If such complicated and troublesome work can be omitted from the manufacturing process of the pantyhose, a considerable reduction in the manufacturing cost will surely result.

From this point of view, the inventor of the present invention has reached a concept that the panty-hose can well fit to a variety of human body figures even without the presence of the gore if the inherent stretchability of the material knitted fabric is effectively utilized.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide improved seaming method .and apparatus for goreless panty-hoses, thereby considerably lowering the manufacturing cost of the panty-hoses.

In the seaming system of the present invention, the stocking materials are firstly mounted on template assemblies which is carried by a template unit circulating along an endless guide rail or reciprocating along a curved guide rail. Following the movement of the unit along the guide rail, the stocking materials nipped by the template assemblies are partly sliced by a cutter device, the template assemblies spread the stocking materials so as to straighten and expose the sliced fringe outside the stocking materials, the sliced fringe is seamed by a sewing machine into a finished goreless pantyhose, the product is then released from the nip by the template assemblies and the panty-hose is automatically removed from the template unit.

On the basis of the above-described construction of the present invention, various modifications may be made as described later in detail.

Further features of the invention may be explained. in more detail in the ensuing description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein;

FIGS. 1A to 1C are simplified perspective views for explaining the principal seaming mechanism of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a partly sectional side view of an embodiment of the seaming apparatus of the present invention,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4A is a partly sectional side view ofthe template unit and its related parts of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4B is a partly sectional perspective view of the template unit and its related parts,

FIG. 5 is a simplified plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 for showing each step of the cyclic seaming operation of the present invention,

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view for showing the mounting of the stocking materials to the templates,

FIGS. 7A and 7B are plan and partly sectional side views of the mechanism for causing an angular turning of the template assemblies for the mounting of the stocking materials,

FIGS. 8A and 8B are plan and side views of the cutter device used in the apparatus shown in FIG. 2,

FIGS. 9A and 9B are side and plan views of the mechanism for automatically removing the finished panty-hose from the template unit, FIGS. 10A and 10B are partly sectional side views of the template assemy.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the seaming apparatus of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1A to 1C, a basic seaming mechanism of the hip part of a panty-hose without any gore is shown in a simplified illustration. A pair of stocking materials 1 and 2 are held together by nipping them together along

lines

3 and 4. Under this nipped condition, slicing is applied to them along a line 5 which runs between the two

lines

3 and 4. (see FIG. 1A). After this slicing, the open ends of the stocking materials 1 and 2 are spread laterally in the direction perpendicular to the nip so as to open the sliced part (see FIG. 1B). In the finished panty-hose, the sliced part must be seamed as shown with lines 3a and 4a in FIG. 1C.

In this connection, however, the sliced part usually assumes a V-shape cut in the condition shown in FIG. 1B and such V-shape cut is in practice not suitable for an application of a quick and simple seaming action. In order to quicken and simplify the seaming action, it is desirable to change this seaming line into a straight form and to position this seaming line outside the interior of the stocking materials. As mentioned already, according to the basic concept of the present invention, the spreading of the open ends of the stocking materials 1 and 2 is carried out to an utmost extent in the process of FIG. 1B so as to straighten and expose the seaming line outside the interior of the stocking materials. Under such straightened and exposed disposition of the seaming line, seaming of the stocking materials can be very quickly performed by a simple application of machine sewing.

A basic embodiment of the seaming apparatus of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 with omission of dispensable relative machine parts.

In the shown arrangement, a stationary guide rail 6 is given in an endless circular form. A circularly elongated carrier 7 is mounted on the guide rail 6-in a slidable arrangement along the guide rail 6. Inside periphery 8 of the carrier 7 is provided with a continuously elongated rack, which meshes with a drive gear 9. The drive gear 9 is connected to a drive motor 10 for rotation via stepped pulleys 11a and 11b and a belt 12. R0- tation of the drive gear 9 causes a travel of the carrier 7 along the guide rail 6. The motor 10 may be provided with suitable control means (not shown), which con-v trols the mode of rotation of the drive motor 10. For example, the drive motor 10 may be generated for rotation in an intermittent fashion. In one example, a micro-switch is located at a suitably selected position of the guide rail 6, which microswitch is connected to an electric circuit accompanying the drive motor 10. Furthe'r, the micro-switch is accompanied with a suitable timer. Separately from this, the carrier 7 is provided with an operator-pin mounted on a suitably selected position thereof. As the carrier 7 travels along the guide rail 6, the operator-pin of the carrier 7 operates on the micro-switch on the guide rail 6 so as to stop the driving motor 10. The driving motor 10 is kept inoperative over the period settled by the timer. After a prescribed length of period, the timer again functions so as restart the driving motor 10 and the carrier 7 restarts its travelling along the guide rail 6.

In another example, the guide rail 6 may be provided with a micro-switch and the carrier 7 may be provided with a pair of operator-pins suitably spaced from each other. By the contact of the first operator pin with the micro-switch, the running of the driving motor 10 is ceased whereas, by the next contact of the second operator pin with the micro-switch, the running of the drive motor 10 is restarted.

In further example, the guide rail 6 may be provided with a pair of micro-switches suitably spaced from each other whereas the carrier 7 may be provided with an operator-pin also. By the contact of the operator-pin with the first micro-switch, the running of the driving motor 10 is ceased whereas, by the next contact of the operator-pin with the second micro-switch, the running of the drive motor 10 is restarted. In this case, the carrier 7 moves intermittently along the guide rail 6. The travelling speed of the carrier 7 can be controlled as desired by the installation of such control unit connected to the drive motor 10.

As is seen in FIG. 3, the carrier 7 is provided with several template units mounted thereon at prescribed distances. In the case of the illustrated embodiment, six template units are mounted on the carrier 7 at equal distance from each other. It will be understood that the number of the template units on the carrier 7 can be selected as desired in accordance with the requirement in the actual process. Further, in the arrangement shown in FIG. 3, the carrier 7 is supposed to travel in a direction shown with an arrow 0, i.e. in the clockwise direction in the illustration.

Detail structure of the template unit will hereinafter be explained in reference to FIGS. 4A and 48, wherein an upright main shaft 13 is rotatably mounted on the carrier 7 via a cylindrical base 14 and bearings. The cylindrical base 14 is fixed to the carrier 7. At a position just above the upper end of the base 14, a lower gear 15 is fixedly mounted on the main shaft 13 and, at a position still above the lower gear 15, an upper gear 16 is rotatably mounted on the main shaft 13 via a bearing. In one body with this upper gear 16, a collar 171 is rotatably mounted on the main shaft 13 via bearings also, which collar 171 bears a lower arm 17 radially extending therefrom. Above the collar 171, another collar 181 is fixedly mounted on the main shaft 13, which collar 181 bears an upper arm 18 radially extending therefrom. Due to this structure, the lower arm 17 is free of rotation of the main shaft 13 whereas the upper arm 18 turns about the axis of the main shaft 13 upon rotation of the latter.

The lower arm 17 is provided with a template assembly 172 disposed to the outer end thereof. The template assembly 172 comprises a cylinder 19a fixed to the lower arm 17, an elongated lower nipping template 20b horizontally extending from the cylinder 19a, a horizontally elongated upper nipping template 200 which is upwardly movable with respect to the lower template 20b, a spring contained inside of the cylinder 19:: so as to urge the upper template 20a remote from the lower template 20b and an electric actuator contained inside of the cylinder 19a which urges the upper template 20a into contact with the lower template 20b overcoming the spring force by the spring.

The upper arm 18 is accompanied with a template assembly 182 disposed to the outer end thereof, whose structure is the same with that of the template assembly 172.

The electric actuators of the both template assemblies operate in synchronism. Further detail structure of the

template assemblies

172 and 182 will be explained later.

Being spaced from and in parallel to the main shaft 13, a pair of upright

auxiliary shafts

22a and 22b are fixed on the carrier 7. The auxiliary shaft 22a is provided with a lower gear 23a and an upper gear 23b, both being rotatably inserted over the shaft 22a. The lower gear 23a meshes with the lower gear 15 of the main shaft 13 whereas the upper gear 23b meshes with the upper gear 16 of the main shaft 13. The other auxiliary shaft 22b is provided with a lower gear 24a and an upper gear 24b, both being rotatably inserted over the shaft 22b. The lower gear 24a meshes with the lower gear 15 of the main shaft 13 whereas the upper gear 24b meshes with the upper gear 16 of the main shaft 13.

As is seen in FIG. 48, internal surfaces of the upright walls of the guide rail 6 is locationally provided with horizontally running

racks

26a and 26b. Location and length of the

racks

26a and 26b are suitably selected in accordance with the mode of operation to be performed by the apparatus of the present invention. Vertical levels of the

racks

26a and 26b are so designed that they mesh the

gears

23a, 23b, 24a and 24b of the

auxiliary shafts

22a and 22b as the carrier 7 travels along the guide rail 6.

One example of this meshing mode is illustrated in FIG. 4A. Following the advancement of the template unit in the direction of the arrow "0 in FIG. 4B, the lower gear 24a of the auxiliary shaft 22b (right side shaft in FIG. 4A) comes into meshing with the right side rack 26a and rotates in the direction D in FIG. 4A. Upon this rotation of the lower gear 24a, the main shaft 13 rotates in the direction D due to the meshing engagement between the lower gears 15 and 24a. This rotation of the main shaft 13 naturally causes same directional turning of the upper arm 18 and its associated template assembly 182. In synchronism with this operation, the upper gear 23b of the auxiliary shaft 220 (left side shaft in FIG. 4A) comes into meshing with the left side rack 26b and rotates in the direction D Q. Upon this rotation of the upper gear 23b, the collar 171 rotates in the direction D due to the meshing engagement between the upper gears 16 and 23b. This rotation of the collar 171 naturally causes same directional turning of the lower arm 17 and its associated template assembly 172.

After completion of the'above-explained synchronous turning of the both

template assemblies

172 and 182, seaming of the stocking materials is carried out as later described in detail. When the seaming operation is finished, further advancement of the template unit enmeshes the upper gear 24b of the right side auxiliary shaft 22b with the right side rack 26b and the lower gear 23a of the left side auxiliary shaft 22a with the left side rack 26a. This re-meshing of the gears makes the

template assemblies

172 and 182 turn back to their initial positions.

Outline of the seaming operation of the present invention will now be explained in reference to the illustration in FIG. 5. Roughly speaking, the cyclic seaming operation of the present invention includes mounting of the stocking materials to the template unit, slicing of the mounted stocking materials, spreading of the sliced part of the stocking materials, seaming of the spread stocking materials, revival of the initial mounting disposition of the finished parity-hose and removal of the finished panty-hose from the template unit. These operations are carried out in succession while the template unit performs one complete circulation along the circular guide rail.

In FIG. 5, the stocking materials are manually mounted to'the template unit at the station A". When the template unit arrives at the station slicing of the stocking materials is carried out automatically. Passing through the station C, the template assemblies perform the turning and the stocking materials caught thereby are spread so as to place the seaming line substantially straight and to expose it outside the interior of the stocking materials. In this connection, however, the seaming line is actually placed in a slightly curved condition, whose curvature roughly meets the circular travelling course of the axial center of the main shaft along the guide rail. Along this slightly curved seaming line, seaming is carried out by a suitable sewing machine while the template unit passes through the station D". On the course from the station E to the station F, the template assemblies again turn for closing and, upon arrival at the station F, the finished panty-hose is automatically removed from the template unit.

The above-mentioned seaming process will now be again explained in detail particularly with reference to the illustration in FIG. 3. 7

On the station A, mounting of the stocking materials is carried out manually in such a manner, for example as shown in FIG. 6, that the stocking material 1 is inserted over the upper templates a and a whereas the other stocking material 2 is inserted over the lower templates 20b and 2512. In this situation, the upper and lower templates of the both template assemblies are kept free from mutual contact due to the urging tendency by the springs contained inside of the cylinders 19a and 1%. As the template unit travels towards the station 8", the electric actuators of the both

template assemblies

172 and 182 are energized. This energization is caused by a fact that a suitable framework part of the template unit comes in contact with a microswitch which is mounted to the guide rail 6 and is electrically connected to the electric actuators of the template assemblies. This energization can be caused by a fact also that an electroconductive brush mounted to the unit in connection with the electric actuators contacts an electric rail which extends along the guide rail 6 over a prescribed region. Upon energization of the electric actuators, the upper and

lower templates

20a and 20b (and 25a and 25b) are put into a mutual pressure contact so as to nip the stocking materials 1 and 2 in a side by side contact as shown in FIG. 1A.

Upon arrival at the station B, a cutter device 27' advances its cutter blade 28 into a space between the

template assemblies

172 and 182 so as to slice the stocking materials 1 and 2 along the dotted line shown in FIG. 5. The cutter device 27 is provided with a pneumatic cylinder whose piston operation governs the reciprocal sliding of the cutter blade 28. The structure and function of the cutter device 27 will be later explained in detail. v

On the course from the station B" to the station C", the gears 24a and 23b of the template unit comes in meshing with the

racks

26a and 26b of the guide rail 6 as already explained and both template assemblies I 172 and 182 open so as to spread the open ends of the stocking materials 1 and 2. On the station both

template assemblies

172 and 182 are fully opened and the seaming line is completely exposed outside the interior of the stocking materials I and 2 extending sub stantially along the travelling course of the axial center of the main shaft 13.

Seaming is carried out at the station D" by a sewing machine 29a located thereon along the exposed seaming line. For a smooth and stable seaming operation, a pneumatic suction nozzle 29b is located just upstream of the sewing machine 29a so as to tense the sliced portion during the seaming operation. This suction nozzle 29!) is connected to a suitable pneumatic suction source (not shown) and its mouth positions close to the sliced fringe of the stocking materials.

For actuation of the sewing operation and the pneumatic suction, a suitable limit switch (not shown) is provided on the guide rail 6 at a location upstream of the suction nozzle 29b and the limit switch is operated by a suitable contact maker (not shown) disposed to the template unit.

On a course from the station D to the station the

gears

24b and 23a of the template unit comes in meshing with the

racks

26a and 26b and the template assemblies perform an angular turning so as to assume their initial angular position as the station A.

Upon arrival at the station F, the electric actuators of the both

template assemblies

172 and 182 are deactivated. Then due to the urging force by the springs contained in the

cylinders

19a and 19b, the

templates

20a and 20b (and 25a and 25b) are released from the pressure contact. Following this cancellation of the pressure nip, the finished panty-hose is automatically removed from the template unit as will be explained later in detail.

Although the guide rail 6 in the above-described embodiment is given in the circular form, it is also employable to give this guide rail in the other endless form such as oblong in accordance with requirement in the actual process. In such case, a suitable modification need to be employed regarding the structures of the related parts such as the carrier 7. For example, the carrier 7 may be composed of several separate segments flexibly linked to each other and the respective template units may be mounted on therespective carrier segments.

In FIG. 3 of the above-described embodiment, it may be seen that the template units change their angular directions during their travel from the station F to the station A. A mechanism for resulting in this angular change of the template units will now be explained in detail in reference to FIGS. 3, 7A and 7B. Particularly in the case of the illustrated embodiment, the template unit performs an angular turning of 45 degree. As is shown in FIG. 7B clearly, a lateral arm 42 turnably extends from the cylindrical base 14 of the carrier 7 and a cam follower roll 30 is rotatably supported at the outer end of the arm 42. Further, an upright pole 32 is mounted on the lateral arm 42 and a guide member 33 is disposed to the top of the pole 32. The guide member 33 is so arranged as to be always in contact with the

arms

17 and 18 of the

template assemblies

172 and 182. In order to urge the lateral arm 42 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 7A, the lateral arm 42 is accompanied by a tension spring 34a. The lateral arm 42 is further accompanied by a stopper 34b. Separately from this, an elongated cam 31 is disposed onto the guide rail 6, which cam 31 extends from a location properly upstream of the station A" to the station A.

As the template unit approaches from the station F to the station A, the cam follower roll 30 comes in contact with the cam 31 and, due to this contact, the lateral arm 42 carrying the roll 30 turns clockwisely about the axis of the main shaft 13. The projection of the cam 31 into the travelling course of the carrier 7 is so selected that the turning angle of the lateral arm 42 amounts to 45. Upon this turning of the lateral arm 42, the

arms

17 and 18 of the

template assemblies

172 and 182 turn 45 about the axis of the main shaft 13, being pushed by the guide member 33, so as to assume a direction suited for the initial manual mounting of the stocking materials to the template assemblies. After completion of the stocking materials mounting, the roll 30 is released from contact with the cam 31 and the lateral arm 42 is turned reversely, i.e. counterclockwisely in FIG. 7A, by the spring force of the tension spring 34a until the turning in hindered by the stopper 34b.

As explained already in reference to FIG. 3, slicing of the stocking materials mounted on the template unit is carried out by the cutter device 27 when the template unit passes through the station An embodiment of the cutter device 27 for effecting this slicing operation is illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B. When we consider this slicing operation, we must note the fact that, because the slicing should be completed without an interception of the travelling movement of the template unit, the cutter device 27 must turn in synchronism with the travelling of the template unit, i.e. the circulating speed of the carrier 7. In the case of the illustrated embodiment, the cutter device 27 need to turn about the center of the circular guide rail 6 over a prescribed distance for a prescribed period.

For this purpose, the cutter device 27 is arranged in a turnable structure and each template unit is provided with an actuator cam 38 fixedly mounted thereto. In accordance with this, a limit switch 37 is fixed to the guide rail 6 at a location slightly upstream of the station 3", whereon slicing operation is .to be commenced. This limit switch 37 is electrically connected to a solenoid 39 of the cutter device'27. A tiltable lever 40 is pivoted at a midway thereof onto a framework of the cutter device 27, lower end of the lever 40 being mechanically linked to the solenoid 39. A stopper 41 is mounted on the template unit assuming such position as being able to contact the upper end of the lever 40 when the latter is placed in the operative disposition. The upper end of the lever 40 is connected to the framework of the cutter device 27 by a tension spring 43a. Further, the body of the cutter device 27 is connected to a fixed point of the apparatus by a tension spring 4317. A pneumatic damper 44 accompanied by an air inlet adjuster valve 45 is also provided in relation to the cutter device 27.

As the template unit approaches the station 3", the actuator cam 38 of the template unit contacts the limit switch 37 so as to excite the solenoid 39 of the cutter device 27. Being excited in this way, the lever 40 tilts towards the template unit overcoming the spring force by the spring 43a as shown with a solid line in FIG. 8B and the upper end thereof comes in contact with the stopper 41 ofthe template unit. Then, being pushed by the travelling template unit via the above-explained contact, the cutter device 27 turns in the direction X in FIG. 8A, i.e. the travelling direction of the template unit. During this turning, the cutter blade 28 advances into the space between the two template assemblies so as to carry out the slicing operation.

For the sliding motion of the cutter blade 28, the cutter device 27 is accompanied with a pneumatic cylinder which is connected to a given pneumatic source via an electromagnetic valve. This electro-magnetic valve is operated by a timed contact of a micro-switch, which is mounted on the guide rail 6, with a corresponding contactor mounted on the template unit.

After the cutter blade 28 recedes to its initial inoperative position, the limit switch 37 on the guide rail 6 is released from the contact with the actuator cam 38 due to the further travelling of the template unit and the solenoid 39 is deactivated. Upon this deactivation of the solenoid 39, the lever 40 is brought to its inoperative position shown with the chain-and-dot line in FIG. 8B due to the spring force by the spring 43a. Upon this cancellation of the contact engagement of the stopper 41 with the lever 40, the cutter device 27 is brought to its initial position turning in the direction opposite to X in FIG. 88 due to the spring force by the spring 43b. At the moment of this returning movement of the cutter device 27, the pneumatic damper 44 functions as the shock absorber.

As is explained already, the finished panty-hose must be removed off from the template assemblies automatically when the template unit arrives at the station A mechanism for carrying out this removal operation will now be explained in detail in reference to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B.

The mechanism is provided with a tiltable lever 47 pivoted at its lower end to the fixed framework thereof. A solenoid 49 is fixedly mounted to the midway of this lever 47. At a portion above the solenoid 49, a Z- shaped nipper lever 48 is pivotally mounted to the tiltable lever 47 with its lower end being linked to the solenoid 49. Stems of the both

levers

47 and 48 are connected by an intervening tension spring 52 which always urges the nipper lever 48 in such a manner that the upper end of the lever 48 is kept apart from the upper end of the tiltable lever 47. Further, at a portion below the solenoid 49, a fixed pneumatic pressure cylinder 50 is linked to the stern of the tiltable lever 47 via a piston rod 51. Separately from this, a curved guide plate 46 is mounted onto the template unit.

In an inoperative condition, the both

levers

47 and 48 assume the dispositions shown with solid lines in FIG. 9A. That is, the upper end of the nipper lever 48 is remote away from that of the tiltable lever 47 due to the spring force by the spring 52. With approach of the template unit towards the station F, the hanging foot parts of the finished-hose, which rest on the guide plate 46, come into the space between the upper ends of the both

levers

47 and 48. Upon arrival of the hanging foot parts at a prescribed position, the solenoid 49 is activated so as to pull in the lower end of the nipper lever 48 and the upper end of the nipper lever 48 comes in contact with that of the tiltable lever 47 against the spring force by the spring 52 while the foot parts of the finished panty-hose are nipped between them. Following the completion of this nipping operation, the pneumatic pressure cylinder 50 is activated so as to tilt the tiltable lever 47 away from the template unit. By this tilting movement of the lever 47, the panty-hose is gradually removed from the template assemblies.

When the lever 47 arrives at, at the position shown with the chain-and-dot lines in FIG. 9A, the panty-hose is perfectly removed off from the template assemblies and the solenoid 49 is deactivated. Upon this deactivation of the solenoid 49, the nipper lever 48 assumes its initial position due to the spring force by the tension spring 52 and the panty-hose is made free from the nip by the both

levers

47 and 48. Following this, the pneumatic pressure cylinder 50 pulls the tiltable lever 47 to its initial position so as to make the latter prepare for the approach of the next template unit.

Referring to FIGS. A and10B, a detail structure of an embodiment of the template assembly with its related parts is shown. In the shown structure, the cylinder 19a.is fixedto the outer end of the lower arm 17 and the lower template b extends radially from the cylinder surface. Inside the cylinder 19a, a centrally bored electric actuator 61a is fixedly inserted. Further, an electric magnet 62a is embedded within the electric actuator 61 being connected to the corresponding micro-switch on the guide rail 6 as already explained. In the central bore of the electric actuator 61a, a flange 63a is slidably inserted being accompanied with a downwardly integral pole 64a, which extends through a center hole of the cylinder 19a. The pole 64a is provided with a stopper flange 66a at the midway thereof and an abutment 67a at the lower end thereof. A compression spring 68a is inserted between the abutment 67a and the closed bottom end of the center hole of the cylinder 19a. The pole 64a are provided with suitable bearing for a smooth sliding thereof through the center hole of the cylinder 19a. The upper template 20a is fixed to the upper face of the flange 63a.

When the electric actuator 61a is ineffective, i.e. the electro-magnet 62a is deactivated, the flange 63a is exposed upwardly from the cylinder 19a being urged by the spring force by the spring 68a. This exposure is limited to a prescribed extent by a contact of the stopper flange 66a with the bottom face of the electric actuator 61a. In this disposition, the upper template 20a is kept remote from contact with the lower template 20b (see FIG. 10B). Upon activation of the electric magnet 62a, the electric actuator 61a attracts the flange 63a downwardly overcoming the spring force by the spring 68a. Then the upper template 20a fixed on the flange 630 moves downward into a pressure contact with the lower template 20b so as to nip the stocking materials 1 and 2 together.

Another simplified embodiment of the seaming apparatus of the present invention is shown in FIG. 11, wherein only one template unit is used for the seaming operation.

In the shown arrangement, a T-shaped carrier 71 is provided with a pair of rolls 72a and 72b rotatably disposed to its one end and a pin 73 at the other end thereof. The pin 73 is connected to a travelling chain 74. The rolls 72a and 72b are accepted by a guide rail 76 which runs parallel to the travelling course of the chain 74.

At the midway of the carrier 71, an upright cylinder 77 is fixed thereto. Within the cylinder 77, a hollow shaft 78 is rotatably inserted. Further within the hollow shaft 78, a solid shaft 79 is rotatably inserted also. The hollow shaft 78 is provided with an upper arm 81 fixed to the upper end thereof and a lower arm 82 fixed to the lower end thereof. The solid shaft 79 is provided with an upper arm 83 fixed to the upper end thereof and a lower arm 84 fixed to the lower end thereof.

The

lower arms

82 and 84 are provided with

rolls

86 and 87 which are rotatably disposed to the free ends of the arms, respectively. Both rolls 86 and 87 are received in acam rail 88 of a suitably selected curvature.

The upper arm 81 is provided with a fixed upright cylinder 89 at its free end and an upper template 91a is fixed to the upper end of the cylinder 89. A solenoid (not shown) is inserted within the cylinder 89 and a lower template 91b is fixedly connected to the solenoid via a cut off formed through the wall of the cylinder 89. The other upper arm 83 is provided with a cylinder 92,

templates

93a and 93b and a solenoid also. The abovementioned solenoids operate in synchronism.

Although not shown in the drawing, the apparatus is accompanied with suitable a sewing machine and a cutter device which are located at selected positions by the guide rail 76.

The operation of the shown arrangement will now be explained simply. As the chain 74 travels, the carrier 71 travels along the guide rail 76. Following this travel of the carrier 71, the

rolls

86 and 87 of the

lower arms

82 and 84 travels along the cam rail 88. Because the cam rail 88 is suitably curved, the

lower arms

82 and 84 turn about the axis of the cylinder 77 and this turning of the

lower arms

82 and 84 causes corresponding turning of the

upper arms

81 and 83, respectively. By this turning of the

upper arms

81 and 83, angular closing and opening of the templates follows as in the case of the preceding embodiment. Further, activation of the solenoids causes corresponding nipping action of the templates.

What is claimed is;

1. An improved seaming method for panty hose, comprising the steps of:

providing a pair of stockings having hip portions;

holding corresponding parts of the hip portions of said pair of stockings in directly adjacent side-byside relation;

cutting the adjacent, corresponding parts of said hip portions along a predetermined line so as to result in the formation of front and rear flaps on each of said hip portions, the front flaps of said hip portions being positioned directly adjacent in side-by-side relation and the rear flaps of said hip portions being positioned directly adjacent in side-by-side relatron;

spreading the hip portions of said stockings until the cut edges of said front and rear flaps are disposed in a substantially straight line; and then seaming the cut edges of said hip portions together while said cut edges are maintained in said substantially straight line condition.

2. A method according to claim 1, including the step of holding the corresponding parts of said hip portions together at two adjacent areas which are elongated and substantially parallel to one another and are slightly spaced from one another to define a narrow elongated nip therebetween, said cutting line extending along said nip.

3. A method according to claim 1, including the steps of continuously holding the opposed front flaps of said hip portions in side-by-side relation so that the cut edges of said front flaps are directly adjacent and substantially overlap one another, and continuously holding the rear flaps of said hip portions in side-by-side relation so that the cut edges of said rear flaps are disposed directly adjacent and substantially overlap one another, and then relatively swinging the overlapping front flaps outwardly away from'the overlapping rear flaps substantially about the bottom of said cut so that the overlapping and adjacent cut edges of said front flaps are substantially aligned with the respective cut edges of said rear flaps.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the overlapping cut edges are continuously seamed from a first point located adjacent the free edges of one of the overlapping pairs of front and rear flaps, said seam running continuously along said cut edges and through the central region thereof as defined by the bottom of said cut until reaching a second point located adjacent the free edges defined by the other of the overlapping pairs of front and rear flaps.

5. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of tensing the spread flaps for maintaining same in a substantially straight line condition during the seaming operation, said tensing being caused by application of a suction to said spread flaps.

6. An apparatus for seaming panty hose, comprising:

elongated and substantially endless guide rail means;

carrier means movably mounted on said guide rail means for movement therealong;

drive means coacting with said carrier means for moving same along said guide rail means;

a plurality of template units mounted on said carrier means at predetermined locations thereon, said template units being spaced from one another in the direction of travel of said carrier means along said guide rail means;

each template unit including first and second template assemblies adapted to have first and second stockings mounted thereon, respectively, said template assemblies being disposed opposite one another so that corresponding parts of said stockings are disposed between said template assemblies in directly adjacent and side-by-side relation;

each of said template units further including means associated therewith for causing the corresponding parts of said stockings to be clampingly held directly adjacent one another in side-by-side relation between said first and second template assemblies;

cutter means located adjacent said guide rail means and positioned for cutting the overlapping corresponding parts of said stockings along a predetermined line;

each of said first and second template assemblies including first and second relatively movable support members mounted for relative movement toward and away from one another, said first and second support members of each template assembly being adapted to be inserted into a respective stocking, and movement means coacting with the first and second support members of each template assembly for causing the first and second support members of each template assembly to be relatively moved away from one another for causing outward spreading of the cut portions of said stocking; and

a seaming mechanism located downstream of said cutter means and coacting with the spread cut edges of the overlapping corresponding parts of said stockings for seaming said cut edgesof said corresponding parts together.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of said template units includes spring means normally biasing said first and second template assemblies away from one another for permitting said corresponding parts of said stockings to be inserted therebetween, and selectively actuatable power means coacting with said first and second template assemblies for selectively moving same toward one another for clamping said corresponding parts of said stockings therebetween.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first and second support member of each of said first and second template assemblies comprise first and second arms which are disposed adjacent but slightly spaced from one another when said arms are in a closed position, said arms defining a narrow nip therebetween, and means mounting said arms for relative movement outwardly away from one for permitting said arms to be disposed in an open position wherein they are substantially aligned with one another.

9. An appartus according to claim 6, further including means mounting said cutter means for movement with said carrier means, and driving means coacting with said cutter means for selectively moving same at the same rate of travel as said carrier means for permitting cutting of said stockings while same are being held on the traveling carrier means. I

10. An apparatus according to claim 6, further including pneumatic suction means disposed adjacent said seaming mechanism for tensing the aligned cut edges of said stockings as said cut edges are fed into said seaming mechanism, said suction means being located closely adjacent but upstream of said seaming mechanism.

11. An apparatus according to claim 6, further including removal means for automatically removing the finished panty hose from its associated template unit, said removing means being located adjacent said guide rail means at a location downstream of said seaming mechanism.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1 1, wherein said removal means includes a pair of relatively movable levers adapted for engaging the panty hose therebetween, and a power device associated with said levers for moving same relatively toward one another for causing the panty hose to be clamped therebetween, and means for moving the pair of levers when in a clamped position outwardly away from said guide rail means for pulling said panty hose off of its associated template unit.

13. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said movement means includes intermittently engageable gear means coacting between each of said template units and said guide rail means for causing relative movement of said support members between the open and closed positions at selected locations as said carrier means travels along said guide rail means.

14. An improved apparatus for seaming together a pair of individual stockings into panty hose, comprising:

substantially straight and elongated guide rail means;

carrier means mounted on said guide rail means for movement therealong; and

drive means connected to said carrier means for reciprocating same along said guide rail means at a preselected speed;

a pair of arm means swingably mounted on said carrier means, each arm means mounting thereon opposed and spaced upper and lower templates, whereby a first stocking is adapted to have the

Claims

1. An improved seaming method for panty hose, comprising the steps of: providing a pair of stockings having hip portions; holding corresponding parts of the hip portions of said pair of stockings in directly adjacent side-by-side relation; cutting the adjacent, corresponding parts of said hip portions along a predetermined line so as to result in the formation of front and rear flaps on each of said hip portions, the front flaps of said hip portions being positioned directly adjacent in side-by-side relation and the rear flaps of said hip portions being positioned directly adjacent in side-by-side relation; spreading the hip portions of said stockings until the cut edges of said front and reaR flaps are disposed in a substantially straight line; and then seaming the cut edges of said hip portions together while said cut edges are maintained in said substantially straight line condition.

3. A method according to claim 1, including the steps of continuously holding the opposed front flaps of said hip portions in side-by-side relation so that the cut edges of said front flaps are directly adjacent and substantially overlap one another, and continuously holding the rear flaps of said hip portions in side-by-side relation so that the cut edges of said rear flaps are disposed directly adjacent and substantially overlap one another, and then relatively swinging the overlapping front flaps outwardly away from the overlapping rear flaps substantially about the bottom of said cut so that the overlapping and adjacent cut edges of said front flaps are substantially aligned with the respective cut edges of said rear flaps.

6. An apparatus for seaming panty hose, comprising: elongated and substantially endless guide rail means; carrier means movably mounted on said guide rail means for movement therealong; drive means coacting with said carrier means for moving same along said guide rail means; a plurality of template units mounted on said carrier means at predetermined locations thereon, said template units being spaced from one another in the direction of travel of said carrier means along said guide rail means; each template unit including first and second template assemblies adapted to have first and second stockings mounted thereon, respectively, said template assemblies being disposed opposite one another so that corresponding parts of said stockings are disposed between said template assemblies in directly adjacent and side-by-side relation; each of said template units further including means associated therewith for causing the corresponding parts of said stockings to be clampingly held directly adjacent one another in side-by-side relation between said first and second template assemblies; cutter means located adjacent said guide rail means and positioned for cutting the overlapping corresponding parts of said stockings along a predetermined line; each of said first and second template assemblies including first and second relatively movable support members mounted for relative movement toward and away from one another, said first and second support members of each template assembly being adapted to be inserted into a respective stocking, and movement means coacting with the first and second support members of each template assembly for causing the first and second support members of each template assembly to be relatively moved away from one another for causing outward spreading of the cut portions of said stocking; and a seaming mechanism located downstream of said cutter means and coacting with the spread cut edges of the overlapping corresponding parts of said stockIngs for seaming said cut edges of said corresponding parts together.

9. An appartus according to claim 6, further including means mounting said cutter means for movement with said carrier means, and driving means coacting with said cutter means for selectively moving same at the same rate of travel as said carrier means for permitting cutting of said stockings while same are being held on the traveling carrier means.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said removal means includes a pair of relatively movable levers adapted for engaging the panty hose therebetween, and a power device associated with said levers for moving same relatively toward one another for causing the panty hose to be clamped therebetween, and means for moving the pair of levers when in a clamped position outwardly away from said guide rail means for pulling said panty hose off of its associated template unit.

14. An improved apparatus for seaming together a pair of individual stockings into panty hose, comprising: substantially straight and elongated guide rail means; carrier means mounted on said guide rail means for movement therealong; and drive means connected to said carrier means for reciprocating same along said guide rail means at a preselected speed; a pair of arm means swingably mounted on said carrier means, each arm means mounting thereon opposed and spaced upper and lower templates, whereby a first stocking is adapted to have the upper templates inserted into the open end thereof and the other stocking is adapted to have the lower templates inserted into the open end thereof, whereby the pair of stockings have opposed corresponding parts which are disposed directly adjacent one another and positioned between the upper and lower templates; power means coacting with each opposed pair of upper and lower templates for relatively moving same toward one another for clamping the corresponding parts of said stockings therebetween in directly adjacent side-by-side relation; elongated cam means disposed adjacent and extending along said guide rail means; cam follower means rigidly connected to each respective arm means and disposed in engagement with said cam means for causing selected swinging movement of said arm means as said carrier means is moved along said guide rail means, said cam means causing the upper templates and the lower templates to be relatively swung toward and away from one another as said carrier means is moved along said guide rail means; and control means for energizing said power means for causing the upper and lower templates to be relatively moved into clamping engagement with the corresponding parts of said stockings at a selected location as said carrier means is moved along said guide rail means.

15. In an apparatus for seaming together a pair of individual stockings for forming panty hose therefrom, a template unit including first and second template assemblies adapted to respectively support thereon first and second stockings, said first template assembly including first and second relatively movable template members adapted to be inserted into the open end of one of said stockings, said second template assembly including first and second relatively movable template members adapted to be inserted into the open end of said other stocking, said first and second template members of said first template assembly being normally disposed substantially opposite to but spaced from the respective first and second template members of said second template assembly whereby the stockings when disposed between the template assemblies have corresponding portions adjacent the open end thereof positioned directly adjacent and between the first and second template assemblies; drive means coacting with the first and second template members of each of said first and second template assembly for causing relative movement between said first and second template members between a closed position and a spread position, said first and second template members when in said closed position being disposed closely adjacent but slightly spaced from one another so as to define a narrow nip therebetween, the open ends of said stocking receiving therein said first and second template members when same are in said closed position, said first and second template members when in said spread position being spaced outwardly from said closed position for causing lateral spreading of the open end of the respective stocking; pressure means coacting between said first and second template assemblies for relatively moving the first and second template members of said first assembly respectively toward the first and second template member of said second assembly for causing the first and second template assemblies to clampingly engage the corresponding parts of said stockings therebetween, whereby said first and second template assemblies hold the corresponding parts of said pair of stockings in directly adjacent, overlapping, side-by-side relation; cutting means associated with said template unit for cutting the overlapping corresponding parts of said stockings along a predetermined line located within said nip when said first and second template assemblies are disposed in said clamping position and said first and second template members are in said closed position, said cutting means including a cutting member and means mounting said cutting member relative to said template unit for permitting said cutting member to move relative to said template unit along said nip for cutting said corresponding parts of said stockings; control means associated with said drive means for activating same for causing the first and second template members associated with each template assembly to be relatively moved from their closed position to their spread position after said corresponding parts have been cut, said first and second template assemblies remaining in said clamped position, said template members when reaching said spread position being disposed so that the opposed cut edges of each stocking are disposEd in substantial alignment with one another; and seaming means associated with said template unit for fixedly connecting the overlapping cut edges of said pair of stockings together while said cut edges are maintained in said aligned position.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, further including means for causing relative movement between said seaming means and said template unit for causing the overlapping cut edges of said pair of stockings to be continuously seamed from the free end of one cut edge to the free end of the other cut edge as said edges are maintained in said aligned position.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, further including a suction device disposed adjacent said seaming mechanism for tensing the cut edges of said stockings at a location disposed adjacent the seaming mechanism.