WO2009016496A2

WO2009016496A2 - Apparatus for treating dual products joined to each other and to be separated for subsequent finishing operations

Info

Publication number: WO2009016496A2
Application number: PCT/IB2008/002026
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrea Conti
Original assignee: Andrea Conti
Priority date: 2007-08-02
Filing date: 2008-07-28
Publication date: 2009-02-05
Also published as: ITFI20070183A1; WO2009016496A3

Abstract

Products, such as two socks joined to each other in correspondence of the toes to be closed, are separated by a knife (11) and transferred to two respective operating machines - such as toe-sewing machines - along two symmetrical paths each comprising pairs of cooperating chains which engage the cut lip as far as to orient it and transfer it in oriented condition to the machine intended to operate the finishing.

Description

"Apparatus for treating dual products joined to each other and to be separated for subsequent finishing operations"

*******

State of the art: Disclosed in a prior patent (EP 636729) is an apparatus for treating dual products joined to each other and to be separated for subsequent finishing operations - such as two socks joined to each other in correspondence of the toes to be closed - comprising a cut unit with a knife able to operate upon a connection region between the two products. To turn said region into two lips joined to the respective separate products, provision is made for general paths which stretch apart and lead the two separate products to respective operating machines, such as sock toe-sewing machines.

Technical field of the invention:

The present invention relates to an improved and efficient solution for the whole of members able to transfer the individual separate products to the respective operating machine, such as a sock toe-sewing machine. By this solution, there are ensured the handling of the products and the regular transfer thereof to the respective operating machines without requiring any intervention or overseeing by an operator. Description of the invention :

These and further advantages will result evident by the following description.

Substantially, in the present apparatus, each of said paths comprises pairs of cooperating chains which engage the cut lip as far as to orient it and transfer it in oriented condition to the machine intended to operate the finishing. In practice, the apparatus may comprise a first pair of superimposed vertical chains engaging the lip (the latter, soon after being cut, resulting oriented almost horizontally) , and a successive horizontal chain which replaces the upper chain so as to allow an action of vertical orientation of said lip (or anyway an orientation allowing it to be ready for the next treatment) . Provision is made advantageously for a cam having inclined profile which comes in contact with the lip in the region of said horizontal chain to cause the same lip to take up an orientation (especially a vertical orientation) as required for the transfer thereof to an operating machine - such as a sewing machine or the like - for a subsequent finishing.

In a practical embodiment of the apparatus in question, there is may be provided - at the end of the path - a pair of horizontal chains which engage the vertically oriented lip and move it to the operating machine which thus receives the product regularly in such condition.

A laminar bracket may develop outside each pair of leading vertical chains for vertically arranging the product downwards starting from the lip being engaged by said chains . The two operating machines - such as the sewing machines - are symmetrically constructed and positioned with respect to a vertical symmetry plan of the whole apparatus. The invention will be better understood by a reading of the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a practical, not-limiting example of the same invention. In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a plan ensemble view;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the region indicated by arrow f2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged, lateral view taken on line III- III in Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, horizontal cross-section taken on line IV-IV in Fig. 3;

Figs. 5A and 5B are two portions of a horizontal cross- section taken on line VA-VB in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a view from VI-VI of Fig. 5B;

Fig. 7 is a partial, enlarged view from line VII-VII in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a local partial cross-section taken on line VIII-VIII in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the position of three driving chains;

Fig. 10 is a local detailed view from X-X in Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 shows in isolation the driving chains in plan view;

Figs. 12 to 20 are local cross-sections taken on lines XII-XII and XX-XX in Fig. 11; and

Figs. 21 and 22 are perspective views of a dual-sock product in a stretched condition and in a condition ready for entering the transfer system in question.

As illustrated, the apparatus in question is for handling a product 1, 3, 1 (Figs. 21 and 22) made up of a pair of socks 1 (or the like) symmetrically knitted and joined to each other by a limited region 3 of a specific joining fabric in correspondence of which the two socks are separated; the two socks 1, 1 (or other textiles or non- textile products) are to be transferred to two respective operating machines 5 (Fig. 1), which may be, for example, sewing machines intended for closing the toe of each of the two socks 1 along the residue 3x of the separation region 3. The product 1, 3, 1 may be either rectilinear (as in the drawing) or shaped into two lengths inclined to each other. The entry of the apparatus consists of two "swords" 7A, 7B (Figs. 1, 2 3) between which the region 3 of the product 1, 3, 1 to be cut out is inserted (Figs. 1, 12, 13, 21, 22) . The product is made to slide by the operator onto the surface 7 as far as to put it into engagement between a pair of lower chains C8 and a pair of upper chains C9 which are elastically moved close to each other in order to engage the region 3 while leaving a short space there between where the cut is to be made.

Numeral 11 (Figs. 1, 2, 4) designates a vertical knife which separates the two socks (or other articles) 1 almost midway of region 3, the dual product being made to advance by the two pairs of chains C8 and C9. The upper chains C9 are driven out while the lower chains C8 move forward and are externally flanked by two horizontal external chains C7

(Figs. 6, 7, 9, 16-20) which engage laterally the two products 1 separated by the knife, while the lips 3X - formed by the cut of region 3 - remain horizontally engaged between the respective two chains C8 and C9.

Along the path defined by the pairs of chains C8 and C9 and lateral chains C7, each of the two hanging products 1 is pushed into a vertical position by a respective laminar bracket 12 (Figs. 1, 2, 10, 11, 15) which moves along the respective vertically hanging product 1.

In the region between the sections XVII-XVII and XVIII- XVIII and successive sections, the upper chains are driven out, and each product 1,3X remains engaged between the respective vertical C8 and horizontal C7 chains (Figs. 18 et seqq) .

Disposed along the length of sections XVIII-XVIII and XIX- XIX, sideway and above each chain C8, is a laminar cam 24 having an upper active profile (Figs. 2, 5B, 6, 19) sloping up in the direction of advancement of the chains; on this cam 24, the corresponding lip 3X of the region 3 being cut by the knife 11 is made to interfere; accordingly, each lip 3X, from the almost horizontal position (as obtained upon the cut) of Figs. 12 to 16, is brought to an almost vertical position (Figs. 19, 20) and in such condition, the said lip 3X is received between a corresponding pair of chains CP (Figs. 1, 7, 8, 20) which extend toward, or make part of, the entry of the respective sewing machine 5. Numeral 28 designates groups belonging to the motorization of chains C8 and C9; further motorizations dependending thereon being possibly provided.

From the above description, it is evident that the operator has only the initial task of positioning and move the product 1, 3, 1 (or other equivalent to be divided, hemmed or finished or otherwise perfected) between the "swords" 7 and 9 with the region 3 on the surface 7; the relevant chains C8 and C9 engage the respective lip 3X of the respective sock, so that, each sock 1, 3X is driven along by the relevant chains in the manner above described, as far as to be fed - with the lip 3X being almost vertical - to the chains CP which engage the same lip 3X and feed the product 3 to the relevant sewing machine 5.

It should be pointed out that, as the structures are all symmetrical with respect to a symmetry plan X-X, all the socks (or other products) moving along the two paths, result perfectly treated in the same way and, therefore, result equal to each other, provided that the regions 1 of starting products 1, 3, 1 moved into the apparatus by the operator between the "swords" 7A, 7B are also equal to each other.

It is understood that the drawing shows an example given only as a practical demonstration of the invention, as the same invention can be modified in the form and dispositions without nevertheless departing from the scope of the idea on which the same invention is based. The possible presence of reference numbers in the attached claims has the purpose of facilitating the reading thereof with reference to the description and the drawing, and does not limit the scope of protection represented by the claims.

Claims

Claims :

1. Apparatus for treating dual products joined to each other and to be separated for subsequent finishing operations - such as products (1, 3, 1) of two socks joined to each other in correspondence of the toes to be closed - comprising a cut unit with a knife (11) able to operate on a connection region (3) between the two products to turn said region into two lips (3X) joined to the respective separate product, and paths for the two separate products being provided which stretch apart and lead to respective operating machines (5) - such as sock toe-sewing machines - characterized in that each of said paths comprises pairs of cooperating chains which engage the lip (3A) as far as to orient it and transfer it in oriented condition to the machine (5) intended to operate the finishing.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a first pair of chains of superimposed vertical chains (C8, C9) which engage the lip (3X) horizontally- oriented, a successive horizontal chain (C7) being provided for replacing the upper chain (C9) so as to allow an action of vertical orientation of said lip (3X) .

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a cam (24) having inclined profile which comes in contact with the lip (3A) in the region of said horizontal chain (C7) to cause the same lip to take up an orientation - especially a vertical orientation - as required for the transfer thereof to an operating machine, such as a sewing machine (5) or the like, for a subsequent finishing.

4. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a pair of horizontal chains (CP, CP) which engage the lip (3A) and move it to the operating machine (5) .

5. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a laminar bracket (12) developing outside the pair of leading vertical chains (C8, C9) and able to act on the product for arranging it vertically downwards starting from the lip (3X) being engaged by said chains (C8, C9) .

6. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two operating machines

(5) are symmetrically constructed and positioned with respect to a vertical symmetry plan (X-X) of the whole apparatus .

7. Apparatus for treating dual products joined to each other and to be separated for subsequent finishing operations, all as above described and represented in the accompanying drawings .