WO2015198276A1

WO2015198276A1 - Stripping device for machines for boarding textile articles

Info

Publication number: WO2015198276A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/054820
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carmelo Angelo Cortese
Original assignee: Cortese S.R.L.
Priority date: 2014-06-26
Filing date: 2015-06-26
Publication date: 2015-12-30

Abstract

Stripping device for machines for boarding textile articles such as men's socks and the like, inserted on relative forms (F), comprising a first stripping member (2) and a second stripping member (3) provided with respective tilting frameworks (4, 8), hinged at an upper end according to horizontal parallel axes (A, B) and carrying respectively a first stripping band (5) and a second stripping band (9) that wind on a respective upper roll (6, 10) and on a respective lower roll (7,11), carried rotatable by said frameworks (4, 8); the stripping device further comprises laminar grip members (12, 13) converging upwards and cooperating for applying a gripping force on the textile article to be stripped.

Description

STRIPPING DEVICE FOR MACHINES FOR BOARDING TEXTILE ARTICLES

Technical Field

The present invention concerns a stripping device for use in a machine for boarding textile articles such as men's socks, knee socks and the like.

Background Art

It has been known that, in the manufacturing process, socks and similar textile articles are exposed to a series of heat treatments intended to confer to the same socks suitable characteristics. In particular, men's socks are subjected to a boarding or fixing treatment by means of special automatic machines.

To carry out such treatment, the socks are inserted and stretched on suitable forms, that carry the same socks to the working stations of the machine, such as for example a boarding station having suitable pressure means or a fixing station with pressure steam, provided through a special autoclave. The forms are preferably made up of full templates of metallic material, generally aluminium, shaping, possibly at their top, the profile of the foot. In the shaped forms of most common use, the foot is inclined with respect to the vertical axis of the leg of an angle of nearly 40°, commonly for example of 38°.

The cited machines are usually provided with a device that performs the automatic stripping of the textile articles from the forms, in a suitable working station. The stripping of the articles from the forms is problematic if these forms are shaped according to the profile of the foot. In particular, the portion of the forms shaped according to the profile of the heel is a point of resistance that makes difficult the stripping of the socks.

For stripping the socks from such shaped forms, stripping devices are known that have a stripping unit provided with pliers grip means predisposed to grip the tip of the articles inserted on the forms at the foot. The stripping unit is operated in linear shifting by a suitable actuator member, according to a motion direction aligned with the axis of the foot of the forms, equal for example to the above mentioned angle of 38° with respect to a vertical axis, so as to perform the stripping of the article along such stripping direction. After stripping the sock from the form, that is, when the stripping unit has reached the upper stroke end, the sock is released by the pliers grip means and hit or drawn by suitable means that lay it down on collection or removal means.

Known stripping devices have considerable limitations and do not fully satisfy the need of easily stripping the sock.

It is mainly complained that these stripping devices have a considerable mechanical complexity and a reduced working speed, because of the long stroke required by the stripping unit to complete the stripping of the socks from the forms, before releasing them. By effect of the above mentioned working mode, the cited stripping devices also have high overall dimensions.

In view of the above mentioned problems, machines have been devised for boarding textile articles, which aim to easily perform the stripping operation.

Patent US 4,658,995 discloses a machine for stripping textile articles, in particular men's socks and the like, comprising a stripping station for textile articles inserted on relative forms carried by support members sliding along suitable guide means. At the stripping station, there is a stripping device for textile articles predisposed to strip the textile articles from the forms and to convey such articles towards a collecting station. The stripping device comprises a couple of stripping members, each shaping a framework mounted tilting on a base body. Each framework is provided with a first upper roll and with a second lower roll, both rotatable, around which a band is wound slidable on the rolls by means of a motor member. The stripping members are mobile, on command of an electromagnetic actuator, between a spaced position and an approached position in which the textile article is stripped from the relative form.

Patent WO 2006/097966 discloses a stripping device for use in machines for boarding textile articles. The device comprises a first stripping member and a second stripping member provided with tilting frameworks hinged at an upper end. The frameworks carry respective stripping bands, operated in sliding by a motor member, that wind on at least one lower roll and on one upper roll mounted rotatable on the frameworks. The device comprises as well operation means which operate the relative angular rotation of the frameworks between a position of mutual opening and a position of closure in which the textile article is stripped.

Despite developments in the field, there exist the need of improving the stripping efficiency of the textile articles so as to optimize the production process.

Disclosure

The task of the present invention is that of solving the cited problems, devising a stripping device that allows to perform, in a really effective way, the stripping of textile articles such as men's socks and the like from relative forms, in machines for boarding textile articles. Within such task, it is a further scope of the present invention that of providing a stripping device of simple constructive and functional conception, provided with surely reliable functioning, versatile use as well as relatively economic cost.

The cited scopes are reached, according to the present invention, by the stripping device for machines for boarding of textile articles such as men's socks and the like, according to claim 1 .

The stripping device comprises a first stripping member and a second stripping member respectively comprising a first grip member and a second grip member. Such grip members comprise respective laminar elements and are respectively associated with a first framework and with a second framework. Such first and second frameworks are tilting, hinged at one upper end according to horizontal parallel axes.

Each grip member is interposed between the respective framework and a respective stripping band. In particular, the device comprises a first stripping band and a second stripping band that wind on a respective upper roll and on a respective lower roll, carried in rotatable manner by the frameworks.

The device comprises a first motor member predisposed to operate the synchronous feeding of the stripping bands.

The device comprises as well a second motor member suitable to operate the frameworks of the above mentioned stripping members in angular relative rotation, the one with respect to the other, between a position of mutual opening and a closure position.

In such closure position the stripping bands are arranged face to face for a respective portion, on a plane substantially longitudinal, to engage at least one form, carrying a relative textile article to be stripped, from opposite sides.

In such closure position the laminar elements of the above mentioned grip members converge upwards thus being face to face for at least a portion at the longitudinal plane, so as to cooperate for applying a gripping force on said textile article to be stripped.

Preferably, in the above mentioned closure position the lower rolls of the stripping bands are arranged face to face, at a portion of said form, shaped according to the profile of the foot, substantially corresponding to the heel.

Preferably, the upper rolls are predisposed to cooperate to exert a pressure action on a textile article to be stripped.

Preferably, each laminar element comprises at least one plate being predisposed to exert an elastic grip action on the textile article.

Advantageously, each plate has an end portion inclined with respect to a lying plane of the relative grip member so as to shape a grip zone on said textile article.

Preferably, the grip members are constrained respectively to a first support shaft and to a second support shaft, tightly fixed respectively to the first framework and to the second framework.

Preferably, the first support shaft and the second support shaft extend in a substantially horizontal direction, being respectively above the first lower roll and above the second lower roll.

Advantageously, the first framework and the second framework are articulated, at both their ends, respectively to a first piston rod member and to a second piston rod member, constrained to a crank member. Preferably, the crank member is mounted rotatable on a motor shaft operated in rotation by a second motor member.

Advantageously, the first piston rod member is provided with damper means so as to absorb the oscillations produced by the passage from the opening to the closure of the first stripping member and of the second stripping member.

Preferably, the device comprises a damper unit arranged at both sides of a lower roll. Preferably, the damper unit comprises a cylindrical element that can slide through a guide supported by one of the frameworks. Preferably, the cylindrical element is provided, for a respective portion protruding inferiorly from the above mentioned framework, with suitable resilient means.

Description of Drawings

Details of the invention shall be more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the stripping device for a machine for boarding textile articles such as men's socks and the like, illustrated for indicative purposes in the attached drawings, wherein:

figure 1 shows a front view of a form shaped according to the foot profile;

figure 2 shows a perspective view of the stripping device according to the present invention;

figure 3 shows a perspective view from a different point of view of the stripping device; figure 4 shows a side view of the stripping device according to the invention;

figure 5 shows a front view of the stripping device;

figure 6 shows a longitudinal cross-section view of the stripping device;

figures 7 and 8 show schematic views of the stripping device in successive working steps.

Best Mode

With particular reference to such figures, the stripping device for textile articles such as men's socks and the like for use in a machine for boarding such textile articles has been indicated in its entirely with 1 .

More precisely, such stripping device 1 is predisposed to work at a stripping station of the machine, not shown in figures, to which the forms are vertically fed with the above mentioned textile articles inserted therein. In particular, each form F is full and comprises a base support predisposed to cooperate with respective feed means of the machine; an elongated portion, substantially vertical; a profiled end portion, suitably inclined, shaping the heel and the front part of the foot (see figure 1 ).

The heel of the form F is arranged at a height constant with respect to the structure of the machine and the feet, of different sizes in which it is normally realized the form, extend starting from such height so as to keep the positioning of the same heel unchanged with respect to the machine. The stripping device 1 is arranged at an upper part of the above mentioned stripping station. In particular the device 1 comprises a first stripping member 2 and a second stripping member 3. The first stripping member 2 shapes a first tilting framework 4 having elongated shape and hinged to an upper end according to a horizontal axis A. The framework 4 carries a first stripping band 5 that winds on a respective first upper roll 6 and on a first lower roll 7 carried rotatable by the same framework 4. In particular, the first upper roll 6 is mounted rotatable on the axis A.

The second stripping member 3 shapes a second tilting framework 8 placed side by side to the first framework 4, hinged to an upper end at a second horizontal axis B. The second axis B is parallel and preferably arranged above the axis A. The second framework 8 carries a second stripping band 9 that winds on a respective second upper roll 10, mounted rotatable on the axis B, and on a second lower roll 1 1 carried rotatable by the same framework 8. The first upper roll 6 and the second upper roll 10 are predisposed to cooperate to perform a pressure action to the socks to be stripped.

A first grip member 12 and a second grip member 13 are associated respectively with the first framework 4 and with the second framework 8. Each grip member 12, 13 is interposed between the respective framework 4, 8 and the respective stripping band 5, 9. The grip members 12, 13 are respectively constrained to a first support shaft 14 and to a second support shaft 15 that extend in a direction substantially horizontal, respectively above the first lower roll 7 and above the second lower roll 1 1 . The first support shaft 14 and the second support shaft 15 are tightly fixed to the respective frameworks 4, 8.

The grip members 12, 13 comprise respective laminar elements oriented so as to work as pliers in a stripping step, that is exerting a gripping action on the textile article. In particular, the laminar elements converge, starting from respective support shafts 14, 15 upwards so as to result face to face in a closure position for at least a portion at a longitudinal plane of the stripping device. Preferably, each laminar element comprises at least one plate predisposed to exert an elastic gripping action on the textile article to be stripped. Preferably each laminar element comprises a first plate and a second plate overlapping the first plate and having a length bigger than the first plate.

Preferably, the plates are made of stainless steel for springs.

The at least one plate of each laminar element has an end portion inclined with respect to the lying plane of the respective grip member 12, 13 so as to define a grip zone on the textile article.

A first diverting roll 16, set between the upper roll 10 and the lower roll 6, is suitable to divert the second stripping band 9 in order to place it, for a corresponding portion, substantially parallel to a facing portion of the first stripping band 5. The stripping bands 5, 9 are suitable to be handled by a first motor member 17 constrained to the fixed framework of the machine. The motor member 17 transmits the synchronous rotation motion to the first upper roll 10 and to the second upper roll 6 through toothed wheels gears 18, 19 arranged at each side of the axes A and B. The gears 18, 19 have a unitary transmission ratio, so that the stripping bands 5, 9 are handled in a synchronous way and that facing tracts of the same stripping bands are operated in the same direction.

The first framework 4 and the second framework 8 are articulated, at both sides, respectively to a first piston rod member 20 and to a second piston rod member 21 , constrained to a crank member 22.

The crank member 22 is mounted rotatable on a motor shaft 23 parallel to the axes A and B that is operated in rotation by a second motor member 24 coupled with the motor shaft 23 itself.

The crank handle member 22 is predisposed to alternatively rotate of 90°. Further to such rotation, the first piston rod member 20 and the second piston rod member 21 alternatively carry out the opening and the closure of the first and of the second stripping member 2, 3 in suitable step relationship with the feeding of the forms.

The first piston rod member 20 is provided with damper means 25 so as to absorb the oscillations produced by the passage from the opening to the closure of the first and of the second stripping member 2, 3.

A damper unit 26 is arranged as well at both sides of the second lower roll 1 1 . The damper unit 26 comprises a ribbed cylindrical element 27 supported by the second framework 8 capable to slide through a guide 28. The cylindrical element 27 is provided, for a portion interiorly protruding from the second framework 8, with suitable resilient means 29.

The first and the second stripping members 2, 3 are suitable to be alternatively tilted according, respectively, to the axes A and B, between a position of mutual opening and a position of closure at which facing portions of the first stripping band 5 and of the second stripping band 9 are arranged on a substantially longitudinal plane.

In the cited closure position, the lower rolls 7, 1 1 of the stripping bands 5, 9 are arranged face to face at the previously cited height. Such lower rolls 7, 1 1 are therefore predisposed to suitably engage the heel of a form F introduced between them, shaping therein an inlet portion for respective socks being stripped. In such closure position the first grip member 12 and the second grip member 13 are placed face to face, at least for a portion, at the above mentioned longitudinal plane of the stripping device, suitable to cooperate to apply a gripping force on the sock being stripped. Downstream of the first and of the second upper roll 6, 10 there is a couple of second diverting rolls 30, 31 predisposed to place respectively the first stripping band 5 and the second stripping band 9 parallel for a portion.

The first stripping band 5 and the second stripping band 9 wind, for such tract, respectively on a first end roll 32 and on a second end roll 33, arranged parallel downstream of the couple of the diverting rolls 30, 31 , defining a portion for the exit of the sock so as to transfer the same sock on collection means below not shown in figure.

The functioning of the stripping device is described in the following.

When inactive, the stripping devices 2, 3 are arranged in open position, so as to enable the forms on which the socks to be stripped are inserted to be vertically interposed between them. One or more forms are stopped between the first stripping member 2 and the second stripping member 3.

Subsequently, the stripping members 2, 3 are closed on operation of the second motor member 24, so that the first lower roll 7 and the second lower roll 1 1 are placed face to face at the heel of the socks to be stripped.

At this point, the first motor member 17 operates the synchronous handling of the stripping bands 5, 9. The lower rolls 7, 1 1 start the stripping of the socks from the forms, engaging the heel that is the most critical portion for the stripping. The first grip member 12 and the second grip member 13 exert a gripping force on the socks being stripped so that the socks engaged by the lower rolls 7, 1 1 are easily drawn between the stripping bands 5, 9. The socks are then subjected to pressure by the first upper roll 6 and by the second upper roll 10 so as to obtain socks of optimal quality.

Finally, the socks are drawn onto the exit station to be then discharged on the collection means below or, alternatively, on removal means.

At the same time, the second motor member 24 is activated to operate the mutual opening of the stripping members 2, 3 and to allow the feeding of other forms fed by the fixing machine.

Therefore, the stripping device reaches the scope of efficiently performing the stripping of textile articles such as men's socks and the like from forms preferably shaped according to the profile of the foot in machines for boarding such textile articles. Such result is obtained in particular thanks to the fact that the article to be stripped is firstly engaged by lower rolls of the stripping bands at the heel, that is the portion that opposes greater resistance to the stripping, and then the grip members apply a grip force on the article. A feature of the device according to the invention is that the cited grip members significantly contribute to the stripping operation increasing the gripping force exerted on the article. It is a further feature of the present invention the fact that the pressure action carried out by the first upper roll in cooperation with the second upper roll allows to significantly improve the quality of the textile article to be stripped. In fact, the pressing of the textile article completes the fixing previously carried out at suitable steam fixing stations.

The damper means, with which the device is provided, allow as well to appreciably reduce the oscillation produced in the working step, thus increasing the steadiness of the device and then its performances.

It is to be observed that the stripping device according to the invention has a simple structure, predisposed to minimize the required space and to reduce production costs. In practice, the embodiment of the invention, the materials used, as well as the shape and dimensions, may vary depending on the requirements.

Should the technical characteristics mentioned in each claim be followed by reference signs, such reference signs were included strictly with the aim of enhancing the understanding the claims and hence they shall not be deemed restrictive in any manner whatsoever on the scope of each element identified for exemplifying purposes by such reference signs.

Claims

Stripping device for machines for boarding textile articles such as men's socks and the like, inserted on respective forms, comprising

a first stripping member (2) and a second stripping member (3) respectively provided with a first tilting framework (4) and with a second tilting framework (8), hinged at an upper end according to horizontal parallel axes (A, B);

a first stripping band (5) and a second stripping band (9) carried respectively by said first framework (4) and by said second framework (8) that wind on a respective upper roll (6, 10) and on a respective lower roll (7,1 1 ), carried rotatable by said frameworks (4, 8);

a first grip member (12) and a second grip member (13), respectively associated with said first framework (4) and with said second framework (8), each of said grip members (12, 13) being set between said respective framework (4, 8) and said respective stripping band (5, 9);

a first motor member (17) predisposed to operate the synchronous advancement of said stripping bands (5, 9);

and a second motor member (24) predisposed to operate the relative angular rotation of said frameworks (4, 8) of said stripping members (2, 3), respectively with one another, between a position of reciprocal opening and a position of closure in which said stripping bands (5, 9) are arranged face to face for a portion, on a substantially longitudinal plane, so as to engage from opposite sides at least one form (F) carrying a relative textile article to be stripped,

characterized in that said grip members (12, 13) comprise respective laminar elements arranged in said close position, converging upwards so as to be face to face for at least one portion on said longitudinal plane so as to cooperate for applying a gripping force on said textile article to be stripped.

Stripping device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said lower rolls (7, 1 1 ) of said stripping bands (5, 9) are arranged one another face to face, in said closure position, at a portion of said form (F) shaped according to the profile of the foot, substantially corresponding to the heel.

Stripping device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each of said laminar elements of said grip members (12, 13) comprise at least one plate predisposed to exert an elastic gripping force on said textile article, said at least one plate having an end portion inclined with respect to a lying plane of the relative said grip member (12, 13) so as to define a grip region on said textile article.

Stripping device according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that said grip members (12, 13) are respectively constrained to a first support shaft (14) and to a second support shaft (15), fixed respectively to said first framework (4) and to said second framework (8), that extend in a substantially horizontal direction, at the top of said respective lower rolls (7, 1 1 ).

Stripping device according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that said first framework (4) and said second framework (8) are articulated, at both sides, respectively to a first piston rod member (20) and to a second piston rod member (21 ), constrained to a crank member (22).

Stripping device according to claim 5, characterized in that said crank member (22) is mounted rotatable on a motor shaft (23) operated in rotation by said second motor member (24).

Stripping device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said first piston rod member (20) is provided with damper means (25).

Stripping device according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises a damper unit (26) arranged at both sides of a said lower roll (7, 1 1 ).

Stripping device according to claim 8, characterized in that said damper unit (26) comprises a cylindrical element (27) supported by said framework (4, 8) sliding through a guide element (28), and provided with suitable resilient means (29) at a portion protruding inferiorly from one of said frameworks (4, 8).