Necktie handling apparatus

Apparatus for use in turning inside out a stitched, hollow necktie assembly includes a guide comprising a hollow tube (2) of which part (4) of the wall is cut away over a shaped length extending from an intermediate part of the tube to a first end region thereof. A turning loop (7) is angled away from the first end region of the tube, the outer surface of the turning loop lying substantially within the projection of the outer surface of the tube along the axis thereof. The turning loop has a turning surface (27) facing generally away from the tube and an opposite surface (28) facing generally towards the tube. The perimeter of the minimum envelope at any part of the shaped length of the tube and at any part of the turning loop is less than the cross-sectional external perimeter of the tube. Drive mechanisms (13,14) are provided for driving a tie engagement mechanism (21) between an advanced position adjacent to the turning loop and a retracted position. During movement to the retracted position the engagement means pulls the tie assembly through the turning loop, around which the assembly is turned inside out, and complete through the tube.

This invention relates to necktie handling apparatus, and in particular to 
apparatus for use in turning inside out a stitched, hollow necktie 
assembly. 
The final stitching operation in mechanized tie production is to secure 
interfacing in position, and to form a seam along the face fabric of the 
necktie, which seam will in use extend along the centre of the rear of the 
tie. At the end of this operation a stitched, hollow necktie assembly is 
formed and in order to achieve the finished tie this assembly must be 
turned inside out. 
This turning operation has commonly been performed manually. However, in 
one automated system the necktie assembly is threaded onto a tube, and is 
then turned inside out by pushing the narrow end of the tie through the 
tube so that the assembly turns over one of the exposed ends of the tube. 
Neckties usually comprise a broad end and a narrow end. In order to allow 
threading of substantially the full length of the necktie assembly the 
outer diameter of the tube must be such that the narrow end of the 
assembly can be threaded thereon. However, this restricts the internal 
diameter of the tube, with the consequence that when the assembly is being 
pulled through the tube in order to turn it inside out the bulk of the 
broad end of the tie is a very close fit within the tube. This causes 
unwanted stressing of the necktie assembly, and leads to the assembly 
being stretched or otherwise damaged. 
The object of the invention is to reduce or obviate this problem. 
According to the invention a guide for use in turning inside out a 
stitched, hollow necktie assembly comprises a hollow tube of which part of 
the wall is cut away over a shaped length extending from an intermediate 
part of the tube to a first end region thereof, and a turning loop angled 
away from the first end region of the tube, the turning loop having a 
turning surface facing generally away from the tube and an opposite 
surface facing generally towards the tube, the perimeter of the minimum 
envelope at any part of the shaped length of the tube and at any part of 
the turning loop being less than the cross-sectional external perimeter of 
the tube. 
By cutting away part of the wall of the tube the minimum envelope over that 
part of the tube can be reduced without reducing the effective internal 
dimensions of the tube. Similary, the internal dimensions of the turning 
loop can be maintained equal to that of the tube, the reduction of the 
minimum envelope of the turning loop being achieved by suitable selection 
of the angle and shaping of that loop. Thus, a guide in accordance with 
the invention allows a reduction of the envelope over which the narrower 
end of the assembly is to be fitted, without causing a corresponding 
reduction of the internal dimensions of the tube. A hollow necktie 
assembly can thus be turned with little, if any, damage being caused to 
the assembly. The minimum envelope of the turning loop desirably nowhere 
exceeds 0.75 the external perimeter of the tube. 
Preferably, the outer surface of the turning loop lies substantially within 
the projection of the outer surface of the tube along the axis thereof. 
Preferably, the tube wall is cut away by a cut of which at least part lies 
substantially in a plane making an acute angle or a right angle with a 
plane perpendicular to the axis of the tube. The whole length of the cut 
need not be in such a plane, and the cut may be curved and/or stepped if 
required. When the cut does lie in a plane as aforesaid then the angle 
which that plane makes with the plane perpendicular to the axis of the 
tube may. conveniently lie between 85.degree. and 90.degree.. 
The tube wall is preferably cut away so that the limits of the remaining 
part of the tube wall in the first end region of the tube subtend an angle 
no greater than 180.degree. at the axis of the tube. Higher angles are, 
however possible. Obviously, smaller subtended angles will lead to smaller 
minimum envelopes in the first end region of the tube, however a minimum 
subtended angle of 90.degree. is preferred in order to maintain reasonable 
rigidity in the first end region of the tube and to leave a reasonable 
guide surface on which the necktie assembly runs as it is pulled through 
the tube. 
Perferbly the turning surface and the opposite surface of the turning loop 
are parallel, and each lies substantially in a plane making an acute angle 
with a plane perpendicular to the axis of the tube. Plane, parallel 
surfaces are perferred, although it will be understood that the surfaces 
need not be parallel, and also that they may be curved or stepped if so 
required. When the surfaces are plane, then the acute angle made with a 
plane perpendicular to the axis of the tube is preferably no less than 
30.degree., and is desirably between 30.degree. and 45.degree.. 
Theoretically, both the tube and the turning loop may be of any suitable 
cross-section, although a circular cross-section is preferred for each of 
these. The turning loop is then preferably coaxial with the tube, and has 
internal and external diameters similar to those of the tube. The loop is 
then desirably integral with the tube so that the whole of the guide is 
formed from a single length of hollow tube suitably cut to form both the 
shaped length of the tube and the turning loop. The tube is preferably 
straight throughout its length, although it is possible to use curved or 
partly-curved tubes, particularly tubes that are partly curved from the 
intermediate part of the tube towards a second end region of the tube. 
The invention also extends to apparatus for turning inside out a stitched 
hollow necktie assembly, the apparatus comprising a guide as aforesaid, 
engagement means locatable adjacent the turning loop for engaging an end 
of the assembly after threading over the tube and turning loop, and drive 
means for driving the engagement means through the turning loop and 
through the tube. 
In operation, the engagement means is located adjacent the turning loop and 
the necktie assembly is then threaded over the tube and turning loop, the 
broader end of the assembly leading. The free section of the narrow end of 
the assembly is engaged with the engagement means and the drive means is 
then operated to drive the engagement means through the turning loop and 
through the tube. This action pulls the assembly through the turning loop 
and the tube, the narrow end leading, the fabric of the assembly turning 
on the turning surface of the turning loop as the engagement means is 
moved. 
The drive means is preferably operative to drive the engagement means out 
of the second end region of the tube and a considerable distance beyond 
the second end region, so as to pull the turned assembly completely 
through the tube. The turning is thus effected in a single movement of one 
engagement means. Alternatively, the engagement means may be effective to 
push the narrow end of the assembly partly or wholly through the tube to a 
location where it is picked up by further engagement means, movement of 
which then completes the turning operation. 
The path of travel of the engagement means is desirably rectilinear, 
although, particularly beyond the intermediate part of the tube, it may be 
at least partially curved. 
Preferably the drive means comprises a drive carriage movable between an 
advanced position lying adjacent to a mount for the tube and a retracted 
position, a rod extends from the carriage through the tube when the 
carriage is in the advanced position and the engagement means is carried 
at a free end of the rod. 
Desirably the rod extends through a sleeve having a first end secured to 
carriage and a second end lying adjacent to the engaging means, and second 
drive means are provided for moving the rod longitudinally with respect to 
the sleeve to move the engaging means into gripping relationship with the 
second end of the sleeve.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to FIG. 1 this shows a tie-turning apparatus mounted on a support 
1. The apparatus may be free standing, in which case two or more sets of 
apparatus may be mounted on a single support, or it may be integrated into 
automatic tie handling apparatus for example as described in GB-A-2216550. 
The apparatus comprises a guide 2 comprising a hollow tube 3 of which part 
of the wall is cut away over a shaped length 4 extending from an 
intermediate part 5 of the tube to a first end region 6 thereof. A turning 
loop 7 is angled away from the first end region 6 of the tube. The tube 
carries a collar 8 adjacent to a second end region 9 thereof, and the 
second end region is a push fit into a cirular bore in a mount 10 secured 
to the support 1 by brackets 11, 12. The push fit enables the tube to be 
removed rapidly from the mount if mecessary, for example in an emergency 
where an operator's finger may have become trapped. 
The support 1 carries a ram 13 of the floating piston type, a drive member 
projecting outwardly through a seal 14 on the outer surface of the ram 
cylinder and capable of opening an closing behind the drive member. A 
suitable ram is that manufactured and sold by Origa Limited of the United 
Kingdom under the name "rodless cylinder". 
The drive member of the ram 13 is secured to, and supports a drive carriage 
15 movable between the advanced positionn shown in FIG. 1 wherein the 
carriage lies adjacent to the mount 10 and a retracted position lying to 
the left of the part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. The ram 13 is 
rectilinear, and the path of travel of the carriage 15 is thus also 
rectilinear. The carriage has a counter balance 16 projecting into the 
plane of the paper and lying above the support 1. 
A hollow sleeve 17 fits into and is secured within a bore of a mount 18 
fixed to carriage 15. When the carriage is in the advanced position the 
sleeve extends through the tube 3 and turning loop 7 project from that 
loop as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. A rod 19 extends through the sleeve and 
has one end secured to the piston of a pneumatic ram 20, the cylinder of 
which is secured to the carriage 15. The free end of the rod carries tie 
engagement means in the form of a loop 21 with an opening 22, a shield 23 
lying behind the opening and being secured to the end of the sleeve 17. 
Retraction of the piston within the ram 20 moves the rod 19 to the left as 
seen in the Figures relative to the sleeve 17, so that the loop 21 
retracts into opposed grooves 24, 25 formed in the end of sleeve 17. 
The shape of the guide 2 will now be considered in more detail. As shown, 
the guide is fabricated from a single straight length of hollow tubing. 
The shaped length 4 of the guide is formed by cutting away part of the 
tube wall long a cut of which the major part lies in a plane making an 
acute angle .alpha. with a plane perpendicular to the axis of the tube. In 
the example shown .alpha. is 85.degree.; it may have a different value. 
The tube wall is cut away so that the limits of the remaining part 26 of 
the tube wall in the first end region 6 subtend an angle .alpha. at the 
axis of the tube that is no greater than 180.degree., and desirably no 
less than 90.degree.. In the example shown the angle .alpha. is about 
160.degree.. 
The turning loop 7 is formed by further cutting of the tubing to define a 
turning surface 27 facing generally away from the tube 3 and an opposite 
surface 28 facing generally towards that tube. The faces are parallel, and 
each lies in a plane making an acute angle .theta. with a plane 
perpendicular to the axis of the tube. The angle .theta. is no less than 
30.degree. and is preferably between 30.degree. and 45.degree.. As already 
stated, it is necessary to the invention that the perimeter of the minimum 
envelope at any part of the shaped length 4 of the tube and at any part of 
the turning loop 7 is less that the cross-sectional external perimeter (in 
the example shown in the drawings the outside diameter) of the tube. This 
will always be the case for the shaped length 4 of tube, where the 
perimeter of the minimum envelope is the outer circumference of the 
remaining part of the tube wall plus the length L1 of the chord between 
the extremities of the remaining part of the tube wall. The length of 
chord L1 will always be less that the circumference of the cut away part 
of the tube wall. 
For the condition to be satisfied so far as the turning loop is concerned 
it is necessary to consider the loop at its broadest part, i.e. the part 
lying in the region of the diametrical plane A--A. In this region the 
minimum envelope of the turning loop is equal to the outside diameter D of 
the tube (FIG. 3) measured both across the turning surface 27 and across 
the opposite surface 28, plus twice the perpendicular distance L2 measured 
between the planes of the turning surface 27 and of the opposite suface 
28. Thus, for the minimum envelope of the turning loop to be less than the 
outer circumference of the tube 2(D+&lt;2)&lt; D. The length L2 must therfore be 
less than 0.57D, i.e. less than 1.14 times the radius of the tube. In 
practice it is preferred that the perpendicular distance L2 be from 0.3 to 
0.8 the radius of the tube. 
The fact that the values of 0 and L2 are chosen to give this minimum 
envelope relationship means that the part 29 of the opposite surface of 
the turning loop lying furthest from the tube will be more remote from the 
tube 3 than the part 30 of the turning surface lying closest to the tube. 
It will be appreciated that this relationship between the parts 29 and 30 
is another way of defining the shape and demensions of the turning loop in 
relation to the tube. 
Operation of the apparatus will be apparent. With the parts in the starting 
position shown in FIG. 1, a stitched, hollow necktie assembly is threaded 
and bunched over the turning loop 28 and the tube 2, the broader end of 
the assembly being threaded on first and fitting comfortably even over the 
full diameter of the tube 2. The narrower end of the assembly is received 
over the turning loop and the shaped length 4 of the tube, and can again 
comfortably be accomodated thereon. When substantially the full length of 
the assembly is in position the free tip of the assembly is inserted in 
the opening 22 of loop 21, the shield 23 preventing too much fabric from 
passing through the opening. The ram 20 is operated to move the loop 21 to 
the left as shown in FIG. 4, so clamping the free tip of the assembly 
between the loop 22 and the sleeve 17. The ram 13 is then operated to 
drive the carriage 15 to the left, so moving sleeve 17 in a similar 
direction, the sleeve pulling the narrow end of the necktie assembly with 
it. The assembly is unfurled from the tube and turned over the turning 
edge 27 of the turning loop. Movement of the carriage continues until the 
whole length of the assembly has been taken from the tube, turned around 
the turning edge 27 and pulled through the tube to a position clear 
thereof. The ram 20 is extended, the tip of the assembly removed from the 
loop 22 and the turned necktie removed. The apparatus is then returned to 
the original position ready for a further cycle. 
It will be appreciated that the apparatus can be modified from that 
illustrated. In particular the shaped length 4 of the tube wall may not 
lie in a single plane but may be suitably curved or stepped, or may have a 
tapering section extending from the intermediate part 5 and thereafter a 
further section lying in or parallel to a diametrical plane of the tube. A 
tube of the latter configuration is shown in FIG. 7 and indicated by the 
reference numeral 31. The angle .alpha. for this tube is 90.degree.. 
Similarly, the turning surface 27 and opposite surface 28 of the turning 
ring need not be planar, but may have other shapes as long as the required 
envelope is maintained. Clearly the shapes adopted for all these parts 
will be such that they will not adversely affect the fabric of the necktie 
assembly, which should be capable of running smoothly over the various 
surfaces. The turning ring need not be formed integrally with the tube, 
and could be a separate part secured to the end of the tube by adhesive or 
any other suitable means. The separate part may be of the same, or of 
different material, than the tube. The means for engaging the free tip of 
the assembly may take any one of a number of forms, and may, for example, 
include a cut-out section in the wall of sleeve 17 towards the free end 
thereof, that end being axially closed by a resilient stop, a rod 
extending through the sleeve and means for pushing the rod towards the 
stop to clamp the free tip therebetween. Retraction of the rod and release 
of the tip after turning may be controlled by a microswitch or other 
sensor operated by the carriage 15.