WO2006097966A1

WO2006097966A1 - Method and device for stripping in boarding machines for textile articles

Info

Publication number: WO2006097966A1
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000159
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carmelo Angelo Cortese
Original assignee: Cortese S.P.A.
Priority date: 2005-03-16
Filing date: 2006-03-15
Publication date: 2006-09-21
Also published as: ITBO20050158A1; EP1937888A1

Abstract

The method for stripping textile articles, such as men's socks and the like, inserted on forms (2) shaped according to the foot profile, provides for inserting one form (2) at least between a first and a second stripping member (8, 9) provided with respective oscillating frames (10, 15), respectively carrying a first and a second stripping bands (12, 17), which wind around an upper roll (13, 18) and around a lower roll (14, 19) at least. The relative angular rotation of the frames (10, 15) is operated from an opening position to a closing position, at which the stripping bands (12, 17) are positioned facing each other, so as to engage said form (2) by opposite sides, being the lower rolls (14, 19) of the stripping bands (12, 17) faced one another at the heel (6) of the foot profile shaped by the form (2) self. The synchronous advance of the stripping bands (12, 17) is operated to cause the stripping of the textile article from the form (2).

Description

Description METHOD AND DEVICE FOR STRIPPING IN BOARDING MACHINES

FOR TEXTILE ARTICLES Technical field The present invention relates to a method and a device for stripping suited to be applied in boarding machines for textiles articles, such as socks, knee socks and the like. Background art It is known that, in process of production, socks and similar textile articles undergo a sequence of thermal treatments suited to confer them appropriate characteristics. In particular men's socks are subjected to a semi-boarding or full boarding treatment by means of suitable automatic machines. In order to realize this treatment, socks are inserted and stretched on suitable forms, which lead the socks to the operational stations of the machine, for instance to a semi-boarding station at which suitable pressing means operate, or to a full boarding station with pressurized steam provided by a suitable autoclave. The forms are preferably realized from solid templates of metallic stuff, usually aluminium, which, if needed, can shape, the foot profile at their top. By the most commonly used shaped forms the foot profile is inclined by an angle next to 40° as to the vertical axis of the leg portion, usually for example by 38°. The cited machines are usually provided with a suitable device which operates the automatic stripping of the textile articles from the forms at a specially provided operational station. The operational step of stripping the articles from the forms turns out to be difficult when the forms are shaped according to the foot profile. In particular, the form portion shaping the foot heel represents a resistant point which makes difficult to strip the socks. In order to strip socks from these shaped forms, the currently known stripping devices provide a pulling out assembly provided with pincers- shaped gripping means suitable for gripping the tip of the articles inserted on the forms by the foot portion. The pulling out assembly is operated in linear translation by a proper actuator member, according to a direction aligned with the axis of the foot portion of the forms, equal for example to the cited angle by 38° as to the vertical direction, so as to translate for carrying out the stripping of the article along this pulling out direction. Once the sock is stripped from the form, that is when the pulling out assembly has reached the upper end of stroke, the sock itself is set free by the pincers-shaped gripping means and is invested or taken by proper means which lay it down on collecting or removal means.

These known stripping devices have considerable limits. In particular it is complained the fact that they present a notable mechanical complexity as well as a reduced operational speed due to the long stroke which is necessary to the pulling out assembly to complete the stripping of the socks from the forms, before setting them free.

Moreover, as a consequence of the aforesaid operational manner, the cited stripping devices occupy huge space and are placed in a scarcely ergonomic way for the operators. In fact the pulling out assembly has to reach a high position in order to complete the pulling out of the socks. Disclosure of the invention The aim of the present invention is to solve the aforesaid problem, by devising a method which allows to easily operate the stripping of textile articles, such as men's socks and the like, from forms shaped according to the foot profile, in boarding machines for these textile articles. Within this aim, a further scope of the invention is to provide a device for stripping, which operates according to the aforesaid method and which has simple structure, reliable function and versatile use. The cited scopes are achieved, according to the present invention, by the method for stripping in boarding machines for textile articles, such as men's socks and the like, inserted on forms shaped according to the foot profile, characterized in that it comprises the operational steps of: (a), inserting at least one form carrying a respective textile article to be stripped between a first stripping member and a second stripping member, provided with respective oscillating frames, hinged by an upper end on parallel horizontal axes and respectively carrying a first stripping band and a second stripping band, which wind around one upper roll and around one lower roll at least, carried revolving by said frames; (b). operating the relative angular rotation of said frames of the stripping members from a mutual opening position to a closing position, at which said stripping bands are positioned one in front of the other at one stretch, on a substantially vertical plane, so as to engage said form, carrying the textile article to be stripped, by opposite sides, being said lower rolls of the stripping bands positioned one in front of the other at the heel of the foot profile shaped by said form; (c). operate the synchronous advance of said stripping bands in order to cause the stripping of said textile article from said form.

Brief description of drawings

Description details of the invention shall be further evident in the illustrations of a preferred embodiment of the device for stripping in boarding machines for textile articles, such as men's socks and the like, in the guideline drawings attached and wherein: fig. 1 illustrates a frontal view of a stripping device operating according to the aforesaid method; fig. 2 illustrates an enlarged view of a detail of the same device for stripping; fig. 2a illustrates the same enlarged view of fig. 2 at a different operational step; fig. 3 illustrates a side view of said device for stripping; fig. 4 illustrates a front view of one form shaped according to the profile of a men's sock, used in the claimed device for stripping.

Modes for carrying out the invention

With reference to such figures, 1 refers to the device for stripping textile articles, such as men's socks and the like, used in a boarding machine for these textile articles. To be more precise, this device for stripping 1 is suited to operate at a stripping station, to which the forms 2, on which said textile articles are inserted, are vertically supplied. In particular each form 2, which is solid, provides a base support 3 suited to co-operate with respective advance means of the machine; a substantially vertical elongated portion 4; a shaped end portion 5, suitably inclined, shaping the heel 6 and the front portion 7 of the foot.

According to a prerogative of the present invention, the heel 6 of the shape 2 is positioned at a level A, which is constant with regard to the framework of the machine, and the feet of the different sizes, in which the form 2 is normally made, extend from this level A, so that the positioning of the heel 6 with regard to the machine results invariable, as it is illustrated with dotted line 5a in fig. 4.

The device for stripping 1 is positioned upperly as to the forms 2 supplied to the aforesaid stripping station. In particular the device 1 comprises a first stripping member 8 and a second stripping member 9. The first stripping member 8 shapes a first oscillating frame 10, having elongated shape and being hinged at its upper end on a horizontal axis 11. The frame 10 carries a first stripping band 12, which winds around a respective first upper roll 13 and around a first lower roll 14, both carried revolving by the same frame 10. In particular the upper roll 13 is fitted revolving around the axis 11.

The second stripping member 9 in its turn shapes a second oscillating frame 15 positioned beside the first frame 10, hinged at its upper end on a second horizontal axis 16. The second axis 16 is parallel and preferably positioned upperly as to the axis 11. The second frame 15 carries a second stripping band 17 winding around a respective second upper roll 18, carried revolving around the axis 16, and around a second lower roll 19 carried revolving by the same frame 15. A diverting roll 20, provided between the upper roll 18 and the lower roll 19, is suited to divert the second stripping band 17, so as to position it, with a corresponding stretch, substantially parallel to a facing stretch of the first stripping 12.

The stripping bands 12, 17 are suited to be set in motion by a single motor drive 21 constrained to the fixed framework 30 of the machine. The motor drive 21 transmits the synchronous rotational motion to the first upper roll 13 and to the second upper roll 18 by means of gear-wheels 22, 23 positioned at each side of the axes 11 and 16. The gear-wheels 22, 23 have a unitary speed ratio, so that the stripping bands 12, 17 are set in motion in synchronous way and the stretches facing each other are operated in the same direction.

Moreover the first and second frames 10, 15 are articulated to respective rocker arms 24, 25 respectively pivoted on opposite ends of a crank member 26 fitted sideways and centrally revolving on a shaft 27. In particular, according to the illustrated embodiment, the crank member 26 shapes a disc positioned beside the first stripping member 8, while the rocker arms 24, 25 result articulated at diametrically opposed pins 28, 29. However it is possible to provide that the crank member 26 has a different shape, for example an elongated shape, being the rocker arms 24, 25 articulated at opposite ends. A gear motor 31 constrained to the fixed framework 30 is provided to drive the alternate angular rotation of the shaft 27, so that the rocker arms 24, 25 alternately operate the opening and closing of the first and second stripping members 8, 9 in properly timed relationship with the supply of the forms 2. To be precise, the first and second stripping members 8, 9 are suited to be alternately oscillated respectively around the axes 11 and 16, between a mutual opening position and a closing position, at which stretches of the first stripping band 12 and of the second stripping band 17, facing each other, are brought closer substantially vertical. At the cited closing position the lower rolls 14, 19 of the stripping bands 12, 17 result opposed at the aforesaid level A. Therefore these lower rolls 14, 19 are suited to opportunely engage the heel 6 of a form 2 inserted between them, thus defining there an entry section 32 for respective socks in process of being stripped. At the first and second upper rolls 13, 18 is equally defined an exit section 33. An inclined band 34 is positioned beside the stripping members 8, 9, suited to receive the socks coming out from the exit section 33 and to transfer them onto an unloading conveyor 35 beneath. In particular, this inclined band 34 presents an entrance upper area 36 near said exit section 33 and an exit lower area 37 positioned just above the conveyor 35.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the inclined band 34 is wound around a couple of rolls operated by a respective motor drive. However it is also possible to provide that the inclined band 34 is made integral with the first stripping band 12. In this case the motor drive self 21 operates the inclined band 34.

The functioning of the device for stripping operating according to the claimed method is described as follows.

At first the stripping members 8, 9 are placed in the opened position, so as to allow the forms 2, on which the socks to be stripped are inserted, to be vertically inserted between them. One or more forms are stopped between the first stripping member 8 and the second stripping member 9. In the illustrated case, the device for stripping 1 acts on one couple of forms 2 at a time.

Subsequently the stripping members 8, 9 are closed upon operation of the gear motor 31 , so as to intercept the form 2 by the shaped portion 5. In particular, the first lower roll 14 and the second lower roll 19 are suited to oppose each other at the heel 6 of the socks to be stripped. At this moment the motor drive 21 operates the synchronous motion of the stripping bands 12, 17. The lower bands 14, 19 begin to strip the socks from the forms 2, by engaging the heel 6, which represents the most critical portion as to the stripping.

Therefore the engaged socks are easily dragged between the stripping bands 12, 17, substantially moving along the path from the entry section 32 to the exit section 33, where they are received by the inclined band 34 at the upper area 36.

Then the stripped socks are transported by the inclined band 34 towards the lower area 37 for the subsequent unload onto the conveyor 35. At the same time the gear motor 31 is operated to cause the mutual opening of the stripping members 8, 9 and to allow the advance of other forms 2 supplied to the boarding machine.

Thus the method for stripping in boarding machines for textile articles, such as men's socks and the like, reaches the aim to easily operate the stripping of textile articles from forms shaped according to the foot profile. This result is achieved particularly thanks to the fact that at first the article to be stripped is engaged by the lower rolls 14, 19 of the stripping bands 12, 17 by the heel 6, which represents the most resistant portion against the stripping.

One prerogative of the claimed method consists in the fact that the vertical positioning of said critical area of the form keeps constant regardless of the different sizes of the forms 2. In particular the front portion 7 and the elongated portion 4 of the different forms extend keeping fixed the vertical level A of the heel 6 with regard to the boarding machine. Therefore it is evident that the effective stripping is guaranteed regardless of the size handled by the device for stripping. An important advantage of the device for stripping according to the invention consists in the simple structure, suited to minimize the space occupied and to reduce the production costs. In particular only one motor drive is suited to synchronously operate the advance of the stripping bands 12, 17. With regard to that, it is worth noting that the presence of the gear-wheels 22, 23 at both sides of the axes 11 , 16 guarantees a steady drive balance.

The structural compactness of the claimed device for stripping can be advantageously increased, by making one of the stripping bands 12, 17 integral with the inclined band 34 suited to remove the stripped articles. At last it is important to notice that the forms 2 are advantageously made so that the front portion 7 of the foot has a little inclination as to the elongated portion 4, in order to reduce the resistance of the sock in process of stripping. Materials adopted for the actual realization of the invention, as well as their shapes and sizes, can be various, depending on the requirements. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1) Method for stripping in boarding machines for textile articles, such as men's socks and the like, inserted on forms (2) shaped according to the foot profile, characterized in that it comprises the operational steps of: (a), inserting at least one form (2) carrying a respective textile article to be stripped between a first stripping member (8) and a second stripping member (9), provided with respective oscillating frames (10, 15), hinged by an upper end on parallel horizontal axes (11 , 16) and respectively carrying a first stripping band (12) and a second stripping band (17), which wind around one upper roll (13, 18) and around one lower roll (14, 19) at least, carried revolving by said frames (10, 15);

(b). operating the relative angular rotation of said frames (10, 15) of the stripping members (8, 9) from a mutual opening position to a closing position, at which said stripping bands (12, 17) are positioned one in front of the other at one stretch, on a substantially vertical plane, so as to engage said form (2), carrying said textile article to be stripped, by opposite sides, being said lower rolls (14, 19) of the stripping bands (12, 17) positioned one in front of the other at the heel (6) of the foot profile shaped by said form (2); (c). operate the synchronous advance, of said stripping bands (12, 17) in order to cause the stripping of said textile article from said form (2).

2) Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that it provides for supplying the form (2) between said stripping members (8, 9), so that said heel (6) of the foot profile is placed at a constant level (A) with regard to said machine, regardless of the size or format of the forms (2). 3) Device for stripping in boarding machines for textile articles, such as men's socks and the like, inserted on forms (2) shaped according to the foot profile, characterized in that it comprises a first stripping member (8) and a second stripping member (9) provided with respective oscillating frames (10, 15), hinged by an upper end on parallel horizontal axes (11 , 16) and respectively carrying a first stripping band (12) and a second stripping band (17), which wind around an upper roll (13, 18) and around a lower roll (14, 19) at least, carried revolving by said frames (10, 15); motor drives (21), suited to operate the synchronous advance of said stripping bands (12, 17); and actuator means (31) suited to set in relative angular rotation said frames (10, 15) of said stripping members (8, 9), one relatively to the other, between a mutual opening position and a closing position, at which said stripping bands (12, 17) are positioned facing each other by a respective stretch, on a substantially vertical plane, so as to engage one form (2) at least, at opposite sides, said form carrying a respective textile article to be stripped, being said lower rolls (14, 19) of the stripping bands (12, 17) positioned facing the heel (6) of the foot profile shaped by said form (2).

4) Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said heel (6) of the foot profile shaped by said form (2) results positioned at a vertical level

(A), constant with regard to said machine, regardless of the size of the forms (2).

5) Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said actuator means (31) comprise a crank member (26) carrying, pivoted at opposite sides, respective rocker arms (24, 25) articulated to said oscillating frames (10, 15) and suited to be set in rotation by a gear motor (31).

6) Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said motor drives (21) comprise a single motor drive suited to operate the synchronous advance of said stripping bands (12, 17) through gear-wheel means (22, 23) positioned at each side of said parallel horizontal axes (11 , 16).

7) Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said gear-wheel means (22, 23) have unitary speed ratio.

8) Device according to claim 3, characterized in that one of said stripping bands (12, 17) is made integral with an exit band (34) for the removal of said stripped textile articles.