Patent GB-1163071-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Automatically Closing the Ends of Tubular Fabric Articles.
IPC: D05B23/00
Filed: 1967-07-20
Abstract: 1,163,071. Seaming non-metallic sheet material. SOUTHERN MILL EQUIPMENT CORP. 20 July, 1967 [8 May, 1967], No. 33410/67. Heading B5K. [Also in Division D1] Apparatus for closing the end of a tubular article comprises means for clamping the article inwardly of and closely adjacent said end and for moving the clamped article relative to seaming means, and pneumatic suction means disposed in advance of the seaming means and operable on said clamped end to position it outwardly of the clamping means and in feeding disposition relative to the seaming means. Each one of a series of stocking inspection forms F is fixed at one end to an endless chain driven via a shaft 56, whereby the open ends of the stockings, disposed at the free ends E of the forms, are carried past seaming means M, mounted on a table 10, for closure thereat. A member 45, projecting from table 10, is formed with a guideway 44 parallel to the direction of movement of the forms. A member 38, having an extension 43 slidable in guideway 44, is formed with a guideway 37 perpendicular to guideway 44. Member 38 is connected to the piston-rod 58<SP>1</SP> of a pneumatic jack 58 carried by an extension 45<SP>1</SP> of member 45. A member 30, slidable in guideway 37 and connected to the piston-rod 39<SP>1</SP> of a pneumatic jack 39 carried on an extension 38<SP>1</SP> of member 38, carries a vertical pin 31 on which is pivoted a plate 29. A structure 23, rising from plate 29, carries two vertical rods 26 slidably supporting an upper clamping jaw 24 and a lower clamping jaw 25. Jaw 24 is normally positioned at right angles to slideway 37, while jaw 25 is extended and has a free edge 25<SP>11</SP> lying at an acute angle to jaw 24. The connecting rods 27<SP>1</SP>, 281 of respective pneumatic jacks 27, 28, carried by structure 23, are connected to clamps 24 and 25 respectively. Initially, the forms F are stationary, while piston-rod 58<SP>1</SP> is extended and piston-rod 39<SP>1</SP> is retracted to position the jaws 24, 25 respectively above and below a form F adjacent the end E thereof. Member 38 then abuts a stop 57 carried by an endless chain 46 which is coupled by an endless chain 54 to shaft 56. The jacks 27, 28 are then actuated to clamp the stocking upon form F, and jack 39 is actuated to extend piston-rod 39<SP>1</SP> for moving member 30 along guideway 37. During this movement the stocking end is drawn off the form and a bar 40, rigid with plate 29, engages an abutment 41 on member 38. Plate 29 is thereby turned clockwise against the bias of a spring 34 to position edge 2511 parallel to guideway 44 and adjacent the mouth 20 of a duct 18 communicating with a vacuum chamber 14. The open end of the stocking is thereby drawn within mouth 20. Shaft 56 is then driven to advance the forms F, when member 38 is also advanced, by means of stop 57, along guideway 44, whereby the stocking end is trimmed and seamed parallel to edge 25<SP>11</SP> by the means M. When stop 57 disengages from member 38, shaft 56 is stopped, the jaws 24, 25 are separated, jack 58 is actuated to extend piston-rod 58<SP>1</SP> for positioning member 38 in abutment with a succeeding stop 57, and jack 39 is actuated to retract the piston-rod 39<SP>1</SP> for positioning the jaws 24, 25 above and below the succeeding form F. Trimmings are conveyed to chamber 14 by ducts 11 and 12. A duct B directs compressed air on to a form carrying a seamed stocking away from the closed end to draw the stocking back on to the form.