Patent GB-1218151-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for automatically closing the ends of tubular articles
IPC: D05B23/00
Filed: 1969-03-20
Abstract: 1,218,151. Seaming non-metallic sheet material. SPEIZMAN INDUSTRIES Inc. 20 March, 1969 [7 Oct., 1968], No. 14702/69. Heading B5K. [Also in Division D1] Apparatus for sequentially closing the ends of tubular articles comprises a series of travelling forms carrying said articles with their open ends located at the free ends of the forms, closing means disposed outwardly adjacent said free ends, and a pair of opposed clamp members disposed on opposite sides of the path of form travel and movable in an endless path that overlaps the form path, the arrangement being such that the clamp members initially clamp an open end therebetween, then convey said end past the closing means for closure thereat, and then open to release said end, the clamp members then returning to the clamping position in a direction generally opposite to the direction of form advance and remaining open to allow free passage of the forms and articles therebetween. Horizontally disposed inspection forms F, movable in a rectilinear path P, carry stockings H having open ends T which overlap the free ends E of forms F. A pair of horizontally disposed clamping members 20, movable in a circular path 42 and pivotable about a vertical axis under control of a cam track 73, are arranged to close upon and clamp an end T and to convey said end through 90 degrees subtended by path 42, to the seaming point S of a sewing machine or other seam-forming means for closure of end T. The free end of the latter is drawn into a suction nozzle positioned in advance of point S, and the work trimmed in advance of point S is removed by suction. Presentation of members 20 at the clamping and seaming positions and the shape of the seam are controlled by the shape of cam track 73. On completion of seaming, members 20 open to release the stocking, which is drawn back on to its form F by air jets and is then sucked toe foremost through the hollow interior of form F for being turned inside out. Form F passes between the open members 20 as the latter return to the clamping position in a direction generally reverse to that of form advance. The apparatus comprises four pairs of members 20, carried at the ends of opposed arms 41, 41<SP>1</SP> extending at 90 degrees apart from hubs 40, 40<SP>1</SP> rigid with respective axially-aligned and continuously-driven shafts 27, 27<SP>1</SP>. A pair of members 20 is fixed to respective axiallyaligned shafts 48, 48<SP>1</SP> rotatable and axially slidable in bearings 49, 49<SP>1</SP> provided in opposed arms 41, 41<SP>1</SP>. Shafts 48, 48<SP>1</SP> are pivoted to the outer ends of arms 47, 47<SP>1</SP>. the inner ends of which are pivoted to lugs 56, 56<SP>1</SP> on hubs 40, 40<SP>1</SP>, the pivotal connections being such as to allow rotary and axial movements of shafts 48, 48<SP>1</SP>. Members 20 are biased towards one another by springs 57, 57<SP>1</SP>, the distance between a pair of members 20 being controlled by the co-operation of follower rollers 58, 58<SP>1</SP>, carried by arms 47, 47<SP>1</SP>, with flanges 62, 621 of cam track members 60, 60<SP>1</SP> fixed to stationary plates 78, 78<SP>1</SP>. The pivoting of shafts 48, 481 is controlled by the co-operation of follower rollers 65, 651 with cam grooves 73, (73<SP>1</SP>) formed in plates 78, 781. Rollers 65, 65<SP>1</SP> are carried by crank arms 72, 72<SP>1</SP>, on shafts 70, 70<SP>1</SP> journalled in bearings 71, 71<SP>1</SP> provided in arms 41, 41<SP>1</SP>. Gears 67, 67<SP>1</SP>, rigid with shafts 70, 70<SP>1</SP>, mesh with gears 66, 66<SP>1</SP> slidably but non-rotatably carried by shafts 48, 48<SP>1</SP>. The seam shape may be altered by exchanging plates 78, 78<SP>1</SP> for plates having cam grooves 73, (73<SP>1</SP>) of the appropriate contour. The operation of the apparatus is controlled by cam-actuated limit switches, the cam shaft rotating at four times the speed of shafts 27, 27<SP>1</SP> to provide four seaming operations for each revolution of the latter, and the rotary speed of shafts 27, 27<SP>1</SP> being reduced during the seaming operations.