Patent GB-885389-A (GB)
Title: Improved stocking boarding machine
Inventor: WILSON JAMES CLEMENT
IPC: D06C5/00
Filed: 1960-05-04
Abstract: Stocking handling apparatus for automatically trimming, boarding and collecting stockings and of the kind comprising a boarding chamber 38, a number of stocking receiving forms F, means for driving the forms F along an endless path 56 including a portion thereof extending through the chamber 38, collecting means mounted at the exterior of the chamber 38 and means adjacent the exit of the path 56 from the chamber 38 for stripping the stockings one-by-one from successive forms F and transferring them to the collecting means, is characterised in that the collecting means operate in synchronism with the stripping means to successively remove stockings therefrom and suspend them in vertical side-by-side positions.  Each form F has a rod 46, Fig. 5, fixed to the lower end thereof and which is slidably received in a bore 52 in a square section block 54, a pin 55 limiting the movement of the rod 46 in the bore 52.  The blocks 54 are driven between rails 66, 68, Figs. 4 and 5, along sides 56A, 56B, 56C of the track 56 by a chain 70 having triangular plates 100 pivoted thereto at 102 and which each <PICT:0885389/IV (c)/1> <PICT:0885389/IV (c)/2> <PICT:0885389/IV (c)/3> <PICT:0885389/IV (c)/4> <PICT:0885389/IV (c)/5> <PICT:0885389/IV (c)/6> <PICT:0885389/IV (c)/7> carry a pusher roller 104.  Th operator slips a stocking on to a form F as it traverses the side 56B.  The track 56 is arranged so that the toe of the form F points towards the front of the machine as it traverses the sides 56A, 56C, 56D but points in the direction of motion as it traverses the side 56B.  As the form is driven along the side 56C it passes vertically adjustable suction clippers 150, Figs. 1 and 11, of known construction, to trim the loose end of the yarn.  At the end of the side 56C the pushers on the chain 70 are disengaged from the blocks 54 and the forms F are driven through the chamber 38 in step-by-step movement by an oscillating arm 114.  A blower 34 continuously circulates air heated by steam coils 40 in the chamber 38.  At the intersection of the sides 56D, A the chain 70 re-engages the blocks 54.  The stripping and collecting means are positioned at the intersection of the sides 56A, 56B. Initially, a stripper block 168, Fig. 12, which is slidable on an arm 166 rests against a pin 196 on a chain 178 in the position shown in Fig. 13.  Also, stripper fingers 218, 220 mounted on a shaft 216 rotatably supported by the block 168 are in their <PICT:0885389/IV (c)/8> <PICT:0885389/IV (c)/9> <PICT:0885389/IV (c)/100> open position, Fig. 17.  When a form F arrives at this intersection the roller 104 begins to shift around the corner, Fig. 8, and the block 54 is held stationary at the corner by a magnet PM and a finger 112 overlies the pin 55 to prevent the form F from being pulled from the block 54 during the stripping.  The pin 196 moves out of engagement with the block 168 and passes round a drive sprocket 200, Fig. 13. The pin 196 actuates a kicker 262 which turns the shaft 216 and drives the fingers 218, 220 to their closed position in which they hold the stocking against a side plate 184, Fig. 17, of the block 168.  An arm 244 drops so that a tooth 248 thereon latches against a shoulder 250 to hold the fingers in their closed position.  The pin 196 re-engages the block 168 which it drives upwardly along the arm 166.  As this upward movement takes place the stocking is stripped from the form F.  The roller 104 re-engages the block 54 and drives the form F along the side 56B so that a new stocking can be placed thereon.  The block 168 is latched at the upper end of the arm 166 by the engagement of a latch 326 on an upper arm 164 and an abutment 324 on the block 168 and the pin 196 begins to move downwardly along the arm 166.  A collector arm 280, Fig. 18, begins to move towards the position 280A so that needles 288, 290 mounted thereon are driven through the clamped stocking.  At the position 280A an abutment 292 on the arm 280 engages a roller 254 to release the latch arm 244 so that the fingers, 218, 220 return to their open position and transfer the support of the stocking to needles 288, 290.  The arm 280 begins to move clockwise so that needles 288, 290 move upwardly clear of the block 168 and the pin 196 passes around a sprocket 204, Fig. 14.  A striker 338, Fig. 18, releases the latch 326 from the abutment 324. The block 168 slides downwardly under gravity until it is arrested by the pin 196.  The above cycle is repeated as each form reaches the p intersection of sides 56A, 56B, every thirteenth form being left blank so that stockings S may be manually removed from the needles 288, 290 in lots of one dozen.  For different size stockings different forms F are used and the positions of the finger 220 and the needle 288 may be varied.  The block 168 may be manually latched in its upper position by the engagement of a tooth 360 with a member 354, Fig. 14.