Patent GB-1384956-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for automatically fitting and removing articles of hosiery treated on boards
IPC: D06H3/16
Filed: 1972-03-22
Abstract: 1384956 Finishing fabrics ETABS MAURICE HELIOT 22 March 1972 [23 March 1971 20 July 1971] 13514/72 Heading D1S Apparatus for fitting articles of hosiery, e.g. stockings, socks or tights, onto a treatment board or form and stripping the articles therefrom comprises means for advancing each article and placing it above the form in a position for fitting thereon, means for fitting the article onto the form, means for smoothing the fitted article, means for stripping the article, and means for conveying the article to a flattening means where it is picked up by a discharge, element which carries it to a collecting station. In the embodiment shown, the forms are moved by a conveyor to a fitting station, Figs. 1-4, at which an article 2 mounted at A on a pair of pivotable grippers 3 is moved to a point B to be fitted onto a form 1 so as to extend to the point C. When the article is fully fitted on the form, the grippers 3 move towards each other to release the article.  The grippers 3 are mounted on a crossmember 4 carrying rollers 5 guided in slides 6 and have lugs 15 linking them firmly to endless chains 7 passing over sprockets 8, 9 on shafts 10, 11, respectively, the shaft 10 being driven. Springs 19 bias the grippers 3 outwardly and the grippers 3 are moved towards each other to release the article by cams 21 acting on noses 20. Stops 22 limit the outward movement of the grippers 3. Additional grippers 16, 17, 18, 16', 17', 18' are provided for smoothing the article located on the form. Each of these grippers 23 is moved against the edge of the form 1, against the bias of a spring 24, by the movement, over a cam 25, of an arm 26 connected to a telescopic shaft 27 provided with bevel pinions 28 each meshing with a pinion 29 to apply a smoothing shoe 30 against the edge of the form 1. Means to apply the shoes 30 to the edge of the form 1 in a constant and uniform manner comprises a shaft 31 driven by a pinion 29 and carrying a ring 32 carrying a radial rod 33. A tension spring 34 is connected between the rod 33 and a rod 35 carried by a collar 36 on the shaft 31. A pin 37 carried by the shaft 31 is movable in a slot in the collar 36. A U-shaped metal sheet 38 guides the articles 2 onto the form 1 and may have an opening connected to a suction pipe. An electrical circuit for the fitting operation is described, Fig. 5 (not shown).  In the stripping means, the grippers 3 are replaced by stripping grippers 59, 59' and upper extraction grippers 62, 62' are provided. The grippers 59, 59' may grip the top of a stocking leg or a seat of a pair of tights and carry the article during stripping, Figs. 8-10 (all not shown) and 11. Each gripper 59, 59' comprises hinged jaws 64, 65, the jaw 64 being carried on an arm 66 mounted radially on a collar 67 on a pivot pin 68. The arm 66 carries lugs 70 for hinging a latch 71 acted on by a return spring 72 and cooperating with a catch 73 on the jaw 65 having an actuating rod 74 acted on by a return spring 75. Grippers 60, 61, 60', 61', identical in construction to the smoothing grippers 23, Fig. 12 (not shown), are located between the grippers 59, 59' and 62, 62'. The grippers 62, 62' are similar in construction to the grippers 59, 59' except that their jaws are pivotable about an axis parallel to cross members 51, Fig. 14, constituting with chains 44, an endless belt carrying the stripping means. The stripped article is deposited on a discharge conveyor formed by parallel slats 58 extending between chains 57, Fig. 14. Teeth 100 of a comb 99, Figs. 14 and 20, are secured on a member 101 connected to two parallel plates 102 having, journalled in bearings therein, bushes 110, 111 and 112, 113 which are carried by chains 106 driven via sprockets 104, 105 from a unit 103. In operation, the plates 102 move upwards, then leftwards of Fig. 20, then downwards to deposit the article on a table 98 and then rightwards to the starting position. At least two piston and cylinder units 114 press the article onto the table 98. An electrical circuit for the stripping operation is described, Fig. 21 (not shown).