Patent GB-1357792-A (GB)
Title: Loading of hosiery articles onto forms
IPC: B65B25/20
Filed: 1971-07-01
Abstract: 1357792 Inspecting and finishing hosiery INTECH CORP 1 July 1971 [24 Aug 1970] 30805/71 Heading D1S A hosiery article 22. is loaded onto a form 26 :by retaining one end of the article at a position remote from the end of the form over which the article is to be drawn onto the form and such that the article can be drawn in an extended condition from its retained end and placed over the end of the form preparatory to being drawn onto the latter, and manually drawing the article onto the form whilst releasing the retained end of the article.  Panty hose which have been shrunk and dyed in apparatus described in Specification 1284675 are delivered to one of a pair of semi-boarding machines 12, Fig. 8, and then to a conveyor system 14, Fig. 3, for selective delivery to a stacking apparatus 16 or packagapparatus .18 as described in Specification 1285669. Each machine 12 comprises a conveyor chain 30, Figs. 3 and 8, on each upper link of which a base 116 of a form 26 is mounted. Each form 26 has a pair of legs each including elongate members 120, 134 held in generally parallel spaced relation and movable relative to one another between an expanded position, Fig. 7, and a collapsed position, Fig. 4. A spring 156 biases the members 120, 134 towards the collapsed position and the members 120, 134 are releasably retained in the expanded position by over-centre toggle means .operatively connected to the members 134 and comprising bars 144, 146 pivoted at 148. At the upper end, the members 120, 134 are pivotally connected by hinged toe expansion plates 124, 128 connected to wire members 136 by devises 138. The panty hose are loaded onto the forms 26 in front of an inspection screen 28, Fig. 8, illuminated from behind by fluorescent light bars 96 in a chamber having light reflective metal walls, so that they can be inspected before passing from the loading station into a treatment chamber 32. Loading is assisted by a device 24, Figs. 3 and 10, comprising a chamber 108 to which suction is applied by a motor-driven exhaust fan 106 mounted above a screen 103. A wall 110 forms a pressure chamber 109 to direct air outwardly. Adjustable louvers 113 are provided. In operation, an operator holds the elastic waistband of a pair of panty hose and flips the garment up in front of the inlet 107 of the chamber 108 so that the legs are drawn out into the chamber 108. The open top of the garment is positioned over the toe portion of a form 26 and the operator draws it over the form, air from the chamber 109 facilitating this action. The members 134 are pulled apart to move the toggle to its over-centre position and smooth and flatten the hose. If a defect is detected during the inspection, the operator presses a button 163, Fig. 4, so that the garment is directed subsequently into a reject collecting bag 44, Fig. 3. After passing through the chamber 32, a cam 160, Fig. 4, is deflected downwardly by a surface 162 to collapse the form. As each form 26 moves into the stripping position, a switch 170, Fig. 4, is closed to direct air under pressure from conduits 176, Fig. 3, to strip the hose from the form and feed it into a dumbbell-section pneumatic conveyor tube 36. A selector valve assembly 38 directs the hose to the stacking or packaging apparatus 16 or 18, respectively. If the button 163 has been manually actuated, a pin (164), Fig. 5 (not shown), will have momentarily closed a switch (168) to operate the valve assembly 38, Fig. 3, to direct the hose into the bag 44.