SELF SUPPORTING STOCKINGS

Abstract: The invention provides a method of manufacturing a self-supporting stocking (1), in which the stocking is supported with the interior of a welt ring (2) facing radially outwardly of the stocking and rotated about its longitudinal axis while a silicone material is applied onto the welt so as to form a stripe around the welt. The silicone is subsequently cured. The method is carried out in an apparatus which includes a series of stocking support means (25) which can be rotated each with a stocking thereon having the interior of its welt facing outwardly. Means (30) are provided for applying silicone to stockings moved in succession to an application station by indexable turntables (11, 12), the treated stockings being passed through curing ovens (28) for curing the silicone material.

Description: SELF SUPPORTING STOCKINGS The present invention relates to self supporting stockings. In wear, a stocking is usually held in position on a wearer's leg by means of either suspenders or an elastic lace or braid ring, stitched to the welt of the stocking. In some types of elastic lace or braid ring a horizontal silicone stripe or stripes are attached within the ring in order to provide the necessary adhesion between the skin of the wearer's leg and the top of the stocking, thus keeping the stocking in place. Hitherto, such lace or braid rings were made up from a continuous strip which incorporates normally two silicone stripes. The required length of lace or braid is cut from the continuous strip and the two ends are then seamed together to form a ring. The ring is then attached to the top of a stocking by a further seam to form a welt. The present invention seeks to provide an improved method and apparatus for producing self supporting stockings. Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a self supporting stocking comprising supporting said stocking with the welt ring interior facing radially outwardly of the stocking, rotating said stocking about its longitudinal axis whilst applying silicone material onto the outwardly facing surface of the welt ring in such a manner as to form a stripe over at least a part of the circumference thereof, and subsequently curing said silicone material. The present invention also provides an apparatus for producing a self supporting stocking comprising support means for supporting a stocking with the welt ring interior facing radially outwardly of the stocking: means for rotating said supported stocking about its longitudinal axis at an application station and means for applying a silicone material onto the outwardly facing surface of the welt ring during rotation in such a manner as to form a stripe over at least a part of the circumference thereof, curing means for curing said applied silicone material; and conveyor means for conveying said support means through said application station and curing means. The present invention is further described hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a stocking intended to be produced according to the present invention and incorporating a silicone stripe on a welt ring thereof; Figure 2 is a side elevation of one form of apparatus according to the invention for the application of a silicone stripe to a stocking such as that in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a partly broken away enlarged perspective view of part of the apparatus of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a silicone application device forming part of the apparatus of Figure 3, and Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of another part of the apparatus of Figure 2. Referring to Figure 1, this illustrates a known self- supporting stocking, designated generally 1, having a welt ring 2 seamed at 3 to of a stocking portion 4 and having a silicone stripe 5 on its internal surface. An alternative or additional possibility of providing a sinuous stripe is indicated in broken lines at 5A and various other plural stripe arrangements are possible. The invention is particularly concerned with a method and apparatus for applying the silicone stripe or stripes in a simple and convenient manner. A preferred form of the apparatus of the invention is illustrated in Figure 1 and will be seen to comprise a main frame 10 on which are mounted a pair of turntables 11 and 12 arranged for indexed angular movement. Indexing is effected by respective drive arms 13, 14 interconnected by a pair of links 15, 16 reciprocally driven from a crank represented diagrammatically at 17. The drive input to the crank is shown as a belt 18 engaged around a main drive pulley 19 itself driven by a further belt or the like 20A from a drive motor 20. The crank operates in conjunction with a pair of escapements, which, in the illustrated arrangements are in the form of pawls 21, 22 pivoted respectively on the ends of the arms 13, 14 and co-operating with ratchet formations (not shown) on the turntable. The pawls and ratchets are arranged so that angular reciprocation of the arms 13, 14 cause the turntables to be driven uni-directionally and consecutively in opposite directions. In the illustrated arrangement, the turntable 12 indexes in a clockwise direction and the turntable 11 in an anti-clockwise direction, as indicated by the respective arrows A, B. Each turntable has a central support ring 23, which may conveniently carry the ratchet formations with which the associated one of the indexing arms 13, 14 cooperates.. Each ring supports a series of juxtaposed radial arms 24, each of which carries a respective stocking support device 25. The upper surf ces of the arms carry a cover plate 26 mounted on a ring 26A secured to the arms (Figure 5). Upper portions of the devices 25 project upwardly from the plate 26, and can be seen more clearly from the right hand side of Figure 2 in which the arms underlie the plate and are hidden thereby. The plate 26 supports upstanding flanges 27 which are located respectively after every second device 25 so that the devices 25 are effectively separated into pairs, for the purpose to be described. Also illustrated in relation to the right hand turntable is a curing and drying oven 28 which will be described in detail hereinafter. Upper and lower silicone extrusion devices 30, 31 lie between the turntables, in operative relation to adjacent ones of the heads 25. A drive belt 32 encircles the heads 25 in driving engagement over the majority of the circumference of each turntable and is driven and directed by a pulley system indicated generally at 33, the drive input for which is taken from the main pulley 19. The oven 28 and part of the plate 26 are illustrated in more detail in Figure 3, the oven being seen rotated slightly from its normal position in Figure 2, for ease of illustration. The oven 28 encloses the whole of the area above the plate 26 except for a portion of sufficient length to expose two pairs of support devices 25. It can be seen that the upstanding flanges 27 are formed by providing generally U-shaped elements, of which the juxtaposed arms 27A are joined together by rivets 34, or other suitable means. Sandwiched between the arms is a rubber wiper element 35 which projects slightly outwardly of the sides and upper edges of the arms and is such as to form a seal against the inner side and upper surfaces of the relatively narrow entry and exit portions 28A of the oven. Steam inlet pipes 36 are provided at intervals around the oven for introduction of steam therein. The lower edges of the oven sides seal by way of radially inner and outer brushes 37, 38 against the cover plate 26. Figure 4 illustrates in more detail one of the silicon injector devices 30. Two arms 24 are illustrated, respectively from each of the turntables 11, 12 and each carries a support device 25, one of which carries a stocking 1 contained largely within the support device, but with the stocking welt ring 2 turned inside out over the outer surf ce of the device 25. The particular extrusion device 30 illustrated is intended to provide a single stripe of silicon on the stocking welt and is provided with a single nozzle 40 mounted on a support arm 41 which, by way of a cranked connection 42 to a power arm 43 can be pivoted about a shaft 44 between positions in which the nozzle 40 (in full lines) is directed towards the illustrated supported stocking and (in broken lines) in which the nozzle is directed towards the other stocking support device 25 upon which a further stocking (not shown) would similarly be carried. The nozzle is connected via a suitable conduit 45 to a pressurised source of flowable silicon material. Figure 5 illustrates, in greater detail, one of the stocking support devices 25 and its relationship with various other parts of the apparatus. The support device can be seen to comprise a main cylindrical body portion 50 secured by bolts 51 to the associated radial arm 24 which is itself rigidly secured by bolts 52 to the ring 23. Mounted within the fixed support 50, by way of a pair of axially spaced bearings 53 is an inner cylindrical sleeve 54 rotatable in the bearings 53 relative to the fixed cylinder 50. Secured to the upper end of the sleeve 54 is an inverted stocking support cylinder 55 of which the base 56 is secured to the sleeve 54 by way of bolts 57 and a skirt 58 surrounds the fixed cylinder 50 in spaced relationship to provide a smooth outer surface for receiving the braid ring of a stocking thereover, as will be described. The free inner end of the skirt 58 is sealed relative to the plate 26 and fixed cylinder 50 by way of seal 59 carried by the skirt and providing a rotary sliding seal between the skirt and components 26 and 50, during operation of the stocking support device 25. Surrounding and secured to the lower end portion of the inner sleeve 54 is a further cylindrical portion of greater diameter than the remainder which forms a driving drum 60 having a pair of axially spaced driving grooves 60A, 60B for engagement by the drive belt 32 at opposite sides thereof. Other parts of the pulley system 33, including the main drive pulley 19 can also be seen in Figure 5 in their operative relationship relative to the stocking support device 25. Secured to the open lower end of the drive drum 60 is a closure plate 61 which forms a blind end to both the drum and the inner sleeve 54. The lower end portion of the inner sleeve 54 is provided with longitudinal rows of radial holes 62 providing communication between the respective interiors of the sleeve 54 and drum 60, the latter communicating via axial holes 63 in the plate 61 with a cap 64 secured to the underside of the plate 61 and having an opening 65 which is normally closed by a ball valve 66 disposed within a guide sleeve 61A and located in its position indicated in broken lines. A vacuum duct 67 extends beneath the stocking support device 25 and, as can be seen from Figure 2, two such ducts are provided, one for each turntable, each duct extending between a paid of stocking support devices 25. Each duct has a pair of spaced apertures 68, the spacing between which corresponds to the spacing between a pair of support devices 25. A ring 69 is secured in position around each aperture 68 and carries an annular brush seal 70, arranged to engage the underside of the cap 64, when the support device 25 is the position illustrated. A leaf spring 71 is supported on the upper surface of the duct 67, or at any other convenient location, and extends generally diametrically across the opening 65 in the cap 64. With the support device 25 in its illustrated position, the spring 71 acts to urge the ball 66 inwardly to its position shown in broken lines, against the action of a return spring 66A. With the turntables stationary in the positions illustrated in Figure 2, it will seen that two of the stocking support devices W and X on each turntable have become disengaged from the drive belt 32 and therefore no longer rotate. When the devices are in these positions, which constitute loading/unloading stations, the ball valves 66 in each of the four stationary devices will have been displaced by the respective leaf springs 71 on the adjacent vacuum duct 67 and the interior of the inner sleeve 54 of each such support device will now be connected to the interior of the vacuum duct 67 via the respective openings 68, 65, 63 and 62. It is now possible for an operative to load a stocking on to each of the stationary support devices W and X (having first unloaded any previously treated stocking therefrom) by inserting the toe end of the stocking into the open upper end of the respective sleeve 54, whereupon the stocking is sucked along the interior of the sleeve, by the vacuum prevailing therein, until it reaches the end plate 61. The operative retains the welt ring 2 of the stocking externally of the sleeve and turns this portion inside out over the outer cylindrical surface of the skirt 58. The indexing mechanism is then actuated to move the indexing arms 13, 14 from their illustrated full line positions to their broken line positions. Movement of the arm 14 causes the right hand turntable 12 to be o indexed through an angular distance, typically about 40 , equal to that occupied by a pair of arms 24, so that the support devices Y, Z both move away from their illustrated positions into the adjacent narrow part 28A of the oven 28, while the adjacent pair of devices W, X move to occupy the positions, which constitute an application station, vacated by the devices Y, Z and, in doing so, become engaged with the belt 32 (visible only in relation to the turntable 11), which causes the inner cylinder 54 and attached skirt 58 of each of these two devices to rotate. During this indexing of the turntable 12, the turntable 11 remains stationary, the pawl 21 of the arm 13 moving over the cooperating ratchet formation to a position of readiness for indexing the turntable 12 at the next stroke of the indexing mechanism. The silicone application devices 30, 31 are now activated, if necessary preceded by an angular movement of the support arms 41 to bring the nozzles 40 into operative position adjacent the support devices Y, Z, and a ring of silicone is deposited upon the welt ring 2 of a stocking 1 supported on each of the devices Y, Z. Once this operation has been completed, a further actuation of the indexing mechanism takes place to bring stockings loaded on the support devices W, X at the loading/unloading station of the turntable 11 into the next positions adjacent to the silicone ' deposit devices 30, 31, accompanied by concomitant movement of any previously treated stockings, on the support devices Y, Z of this turntable into the adjacent oven portion 28A. After swinging movement of the devices 30, 31 towards the turntable 11, the newly loaded stockings may then have silicone rings deposited thereon, as described previously. During this indexing of the turntable 11, the turntable 12 remains stationary, the pawl 22 of the indexing arm 14 performing a ratcheting return movement as already described in relation to the arm 13. A subsequent further indexing movement now moves the o turntable 12 through a further 40 , taking the previously treated stockings Y, Z on this turntable into the adjacent narrow part 28A of the oven 28. Steam is injected continuously via the inlets 36 into the oven 28, but the flanges 27 entering the narrow portion 28A and engaging the internal surfaces thereof effectively form a trap which prevents the steam leaving the oven through the open ends thereof. Once the flanges pass into the wider oven portion, the flanges become clear of the oven walls to permit the required circulation of steam around the treated stockings for the purpose of curing the silicon. It would be possible to interrupt injection of steam and supply warm air into the oven to dry the stockings after curing has taken place; alternatively, the oven may be further divided internally to form a drying chamber downstream of the curing chamber. It will be understood that the apparatus of the invention may differ in many respects from that described above. For example, the rotary turntables may be replaced by a linear conveyor which guides a plurality of stocking support members through loading, silicon application and curing stations during the performance of the method of the invention. In any apparatus of the invention, operation of the conveyor and silicon applying means is preferably effected in timed relationship without intervention of an operative other than to load and unload stockings. Although the twin turntable arrangement has been described with the turntables operating in conjunction with each other, it would be possible for them to operate independently so that one may continue operation while the other is being repaired or serviced, for example.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A method of manufacturing a self supporting stocking comprises supporting said stocking with the welt ring interior facing radially outwardly of the stocking, rotating said stocking about its longitudinal axis whilst applying silicone material onto the outwardly facing surface of the welt ring in such a manner as to form a stripe over at least a part of the circumference thereof, and subsequently curing said silicone material. 2. A method according to Claim 1, wherein a stocking to be treated is positioned on a support device at a loading station, moved to an application station in which the support device is rotated during application of silicon material thereto, and thence moved into a curing oven at the curing station. 3. A method according to Claim 2, wherein stockings are moved alternately into the application station such that the movement of one stocking into said station takes place after application of silicone to the other stocking and is accompanied by movement of the other stocking towards the curing station. 4. A method according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein stockings are positioned in pairs on adjacent support devices and moved in pairs through said application station where silicon material is applied simultaneously to both stockings of a pair prior to movement thereof to the curing station. 5. Apparatus for producing a self supporting stocking comprises support means for supporting a stocking with the welt ring interior facing radially outwardly of the stocking: means for rotating said supported stocking about its longitudinal axis at an application station and means for applying a silicone material onto the outwardly facing surface of the welt ring during rotation in such a manner as to form a stripe over at least a part of the circumference thereof, curing means for curing said applied silicone material; and conveyor means for conveying said support means through said application station and curing means. 6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the conveyor means is a rotary turntable indexable to move the stocking support means successively to the application station for application of silicon material to stockings supported respectively on the support means, and thence to the curing means. 7. Apparatus according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein each support means has a rotatable support portion upon which a stocking welt ring is carried with its interior facing outwardly, said portion being rotated at least when in said application station to enable a stripe of silicon to be applied around the circumference of said welt by said applying means which is relatively fixed. 8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, wherein the support portions of all of the support devices are engaged by a continuous drive element for simultaneous rotation, each device becoming disengaged from the element at a stocking loading/unloading station. 9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein the drive element and conveyor means are driven from a common motor. 10. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 6 to 9, wherein indexing of the turntable is effected by an angularly reciprocable indexing arm coupled to the turntable by a pawl and ratchet mechanism so as to index the turntable uni-directionally. 11. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 6 to 10, wherein the turntable is indexed through an angular distance equal to that occupied by an adjacent pair of support devices so that they are indexed in pairs, and the application station has a pair of applying means arranged to apply silicon material simultaneously to a pair of stockings supported on an adjacent pair of support devices. 12. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 5 to 11, wherein said curing means is an enclosure extending around part of the circumference of the turntable and arranged to receive steam and/or hot air, the oven having relatively restricted inlet and outlet portions acting as traps which substantially prevent an exit of steam/hot air to the exterior. 13. Apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein the support devices are mounted on a circular plate forming part of the turntable, the plate having upstanding flanges separating the devices from each other or into groups, each flange being provided with a part-peripheral flexible wiper seal which engages the internal walls of said restricted oven inlet and outlet portions to form said traps. 14. Apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein the circular plate comprises a series of U-shaped elements which are joined together at their arms to form the flanges, the wiper seal being a flexible element trapped between juxtaposed arms and projecting from the periphery of its associated flange. 15. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 7 to 14, wherein the rotatable support portion of the support device is a cylindrical sleeve rotatably mounted within a fixed support, the sleeve being adapted for automatic connection to a vacuum duct at said loading station to establish negative air pressure within the sleeve, whereby a stocking introduced into an open end of the sleeve is partially sucked into the interior thereof leaving the welt ring at the exterior to be passed over the external surface of the sleeve in readiness for application thereto of silicon material. 16. Apparatus according to Claim 15, wherein the vacuum duct has an outlet aperture with which the sleeve of the support device comes into register when at the loading station, the sleeve having an inlet aperture normally sealed by a valve element which is displaced by contact with relatively fixed means at said loading station to place the sleeve interior in communication with said outlet aperture for sucking into the sleeve a stocking introduced into the sleeve open end remote from the vacuum duct. 17. Apparatus according to Claim 16, wherein the path of communication between the sleeve interior and duct outlet aperture is partially along the exterior of the sleeve and via generally radial aperture means in the sleeve wall. 18. Apparatus according to Claim 16 or Claim 17, wherein the valve element is a spring loaded ball which is displaced by a blade spring arranged generally diametrically across the sleeve inlet aperture. 19. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 5 to 18, wherein the conveyor means is a pair of counter-indexable rotary turntables which are indexed alternately to bring support devices respectively thereon successively into said application station, indexing being effected by a pair of angularly movable mechanically linked indexing arms associated respectively with the turntables, and acting via pawl and ratchet mechanisms, such that movement of the arms in one direction causes indexing movement of one turntable in one direction, and movement of the arms in the opposite direction causes indexing movement of the other turntable the reverse direction. 20. A stocking having a silicon stripe on a welt ring thereof applied by carrying out the method of any one of Claims 1 to 4.

Inventors: HUMPHREYS JOHN CHARLES, HUMPHREYS, JOHN, CHARLES
Applicants: FLUDE & HINCKLEY, H. FLUDE & CO. (HINCKLEY) LIMITED
Application year: 1991
Main classification: D06B3
IPC codes: A41B11, D06B3