Patent Description:
Among the typical garments including a pair of leg pieces and a body, which ends with a typically elastic annular band surrounding the waist when the garment is worn, there are footed and footless tights and panty hose. According to some modern production methods, body and leg pieces are manufactured in a single knitting process using a circular knitting machine. Typically, an elastic band and a knitted article, comprising the body and the leg pieces, are manufactured separately, and then sewn together.

According to other known methods, the knitted article is produced by separately knitting two tubular pieces, which are then partially cut in correspondence of an end thereof and sewn to form the knitted article. Each tubular piece has an elastic edge. The elastic edges of two tubular pieces are cut and then sewn together to form an elastic band that surround the user's waist when the garment is worn.

The step of joining the annular band and the knitted article is complex and time consuming. Prior art examples are disclosed in <CIT> and <CIT>. For the purpose of making this production step faster, the <CIT> discloses an apparatus facilitating the manual assembling operations. This prior art apparatus comprises a loading form and a stretching device, which are brought in mutual coaxial position and move towards each other, thus bringing the loading form inside a space delimited by the stretching device. To facilitate the assembling operations for joining the elastic annular band, or strip, and the knitted article, this prior art apparatus provides for the following steps. The knitted article is manually loaded onto the form, so that a body portion wraps a side loading surface of the loading form. An annular strip, or band, is manually loaded onto the stretching device. Then, the stretching device expands for stretching the annular band. Afterwards the form, onto which the knitted article has been loaded, is inserted inside the annular band. The stretching device is then removed, leaving the annular band adhering around the portion of knitted article surrounding and wrapping the loading form.

In the above mentioned document, neither devices allowing loading the band onto the stretching device are disclosed, nor devices for unloading the finished garment obtained by sewing the annular band to the body of the knitted article. Nor sewing systems are disclosed.

The prior art apparatus assists the operator only to a limited degree in simplifying some of the assembling operations for joining the annular band and the knitted article.

Moreover, a drawback of the method disclosed in the above mentioned prior art document is that both the annular band and the knitted article shall be turned inside out before being loaded onto the stretching device and the loading form. In fact, the annular band and the knitted article are manufactured using a knitting machine, typically a circular knitting machine. Once knitted, they have a right side and a reverse side. When exiting the knitting machine, both the semi-finished products have the right side facing outwards and the reverse side facing inwards. The finished garment is worn with the right sides of the annular band and of the knitted article comprised of body and leg pieces facing outwards. Sewing shall be performed so the seam is not visible on the right side of the garment, i.e. so that the seam is inside. For sewing the annular band and the knitted article together with the seam on the reverse side of the garment using the apparatus disclosed in <CIT>, advance turning both the annular band and the knitted article inside out is necessary. Otherwise, the seam will be outside, and will be visible on the right side of the finished garment. The need of turning both the annular band and the knitted article inside out makes the assembling process performed using the known apparatus particularly complex, also hindering an efficient automation of the same process.

There is therefore a need for more efficient method and apparatus for sewing, i.e. assembling, the annular band and the body of a knitted article together, overcoming or at least alleviating one or more drawbacks of the prior art.

According to an aspect, a method according to claim <NUM> is provided for joining a fabric annular band, comprising a first hem and a second hem, to a knitted article having a body and two leg pieces, the body ending with an open edge intended to be joined to the annular band along the first hem of the annular band. The method comprises the following steps in sequence:.

As it will be clearly apparent from the detailed description of embodiments, this method allows to load the knitted article and the annular band onto the form without the need of turning them inside out with respect to how they are manufactured by the knitting machine. The arrangement and the step sequence is such that the seam between the annular band and the knitted article is located on the reverse side of the finished garment.

Essentially, thanks to the method outlined above it is possible to have a finished garment with the seam on the inner surface thereof without the need of turning band and knitted article inside out beforehand, and therefore in significantly shorter times than those required by the prior art methods.

Further features and embodiments of the method according to the invention are set out in the attached claims, which form an integral part of the present description, and in the detailed description below of exemplary embodiments.

In some embodiments, the step of loading the annular band onto the loading form comprises, in turn, the following steps:.

The following additional steps may be also provided:.

The step of engaging the annular band by the engaging member may comprise the step of making the outer surface of the annular band adhere to an adhesive tape co-acting with the engaging member or being part thereof; and the step of releasing the annular band from the engaging member may preferably comprise a step of moving the annular band with respect to the adhesive tape.

In some embodiments, a step is provided of angularly positioning the annular band on the two positioning rollers. This can be achieved, for example, by synchronously rotating the two positioning rollers and detecting a desired angular position of the annular band by means of a reference mark applied to the annular band and a sensor adapted to detect the mark.

According to a further aspect, an apparatus according to claim <NUM> is provided for joining a fabric annular band, comprising a first hem and a second hem, and a knitted article, having a body and two leg pieces, the body ending with an open edge intended to be joined to the annular band along the first hem of the annular band. The apparatus comprises at least a loading form having an outer loading surface extending around an axis of the loading form, the loading surface being delimited between a first border and a second border. To increase the apparatus productivity, a plurality of loading forms is preferably provided, carried by an equipment transferring them sequentially through a plurality of stations. The equipment may be a carousel, turning around a vertical rotation axis, for instance.

Furthermore, the apparatus comprises a stretching device adapted to receive and to stretch the annular band. The stretching device and the loading form are movable one with respect to the other so as to position the stretching device around the loading surface of the loading form and to release the annular band onto the loading surface of the loading form. A pick-up device is also provided, adapted to take individual annular bands from a storage space and to load them automatically onto the stretching device.

The invention will be better understood by following the description below and the attached drawing, showing a non-limiting embodiment of the invention. More specifically, in the drawing:.

<FIG> schematically illustrate a garment, in the form of tights, constituted by a knitted article M and an annular band FA, that are knitted separately and then joined by the apparatus described herein. More in particular, in <FIG> the annular band FA and the knitted article M are shown separated from each other, before being sewn, whilst in <FIG> these two components are shown assembled to form the finished garment I.

The annular band FA comprises a first hem O1 and a second hem O2. The knitted article M comprises two leg pieces G and a body C. The body ends with an open edge MA, which shall be joined, namely sewn, to one of the two hems of the annular band FA, and in particular to the first hem O1. After having sewn the annular band FA to the knitted article M, a garment I is obtained, with a sewing line LC joining the open edge MA of the body G to the hem O1 of the annular band FA. The letters D and R indicate, for both the annular band A and the knitted article M, the right side and the reverse side, i.e. the surface (D) that shall remain outside and the surface (R) that shall remain inside when the garment I is worn. The sewing line LC shall be done so that the seam is inside the garment I. It should be understood that the garment I schematically shown in <FIG> is only an example, and other garments can be manufactured with the method and the apparatus disclosed herein, for example garment with leg pieces significantly shorter than those illustrated in <FIG>.

With reference to <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> for sewing the annular band FA and the knitted article M together comprises two main parts, constituted by a loading station <NUM> configured to load annular bands onto loading forms, and a moving member <NUM>, onto which more loading forms <NUM>, equal to one another, are arranged and transferred in sequence through the loading station <NUM> and through further stations for the operations of loading the knitted article, sewing it to the band and unloading the garment. In the illustrated embodiment, the moving member <NUM> is configured like a carousel adapted to rotate in stepped fashion around a vertical axis A-A. In other embodiments, the loading forms <NUM> are moved by a different moving member, for example a flexible endless conveyor.

For the sake of simplicity of drawing, the loading station <NUM> for loading the annular bands is represented only schematically in <FIG>, and has been omitted in <FIG>. The details of the loading station <NUM>, as well as the operation thereof, are illustrated in <FIG>.

In the illustrated embodiment, seven loading forms <NUM> and seven stations are provided, the loading forms <NUM> being sequentially transferred through the stations by the carousel <NUM>. It should be understood that the number of stations and the number of loading forms <NUM> may be different than that illustrated.

With reference to <FIG>, the loading station <NUM> having the function of loading annular bands onto one of the loading forms <NUM>, with which the carousel <NUM> is provided, will be now described in detail. The cycle of the operations performed by the loading station will be described later. With reference to Figs. <NUM> to <NUM>, the various stations arranged after the loading station will be described, as well as the operations performed in these stations.

The loading station <NUM> comprises a bearing structure <NUM> arranged radially outside the carousel <NUM>. A storage space <NUM> is provided on the bearing structure <NUM> for storing stacks of annular bands FA (<FIG>). The stacks are adjacent to one another, to increase the capacity of the storage space <NUM>. On the bearing structure <NUM> a slide <NUM> is provided, which carries a pick-up device <NUM>, adapted to take individual annular bands FA from the storage space <NUM> and to transfer them to a stretching device, described below, which loads the annular bands FA onto the respective loading forms <NUM>. The reference number <NUM> indicates a guide, along which the slide <NUM> is movable according to the double arrow f13. The movement according to f13 allows taking annular bands FA from one or the other of more stacks P arranged in the storage space <NUM> and transferring the individual bands FA, taken by the pick-up device, to the stretching device.

On the bearing structure <NUM> a second guide <NUM> is fastened, along which a stretching device <NUM> and a pressure member <NUM> are movable, independently of each other, according to the double arrows f21 and f23. Furthermore, the stretching device <NUM> is rotatable around a vertical axis (D-D, see <FIG>), orthogonal to the horizontal guide <NUM>, as schematically represented in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> by the double arrow f21x. Details of the stretching device <NUM> and of the pressure member <NUM> will be described below.

The pick-up device <NUM> is shown in details in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>. In the illustrated embodiment, the pick-up device <NUM> comprises an engaging member <NUM>, adapted to engage individual annular bands FA from the storage space <NUM>, and a pair of motorized positioning rollers <NUM>, which receive the annular bands FA from the engaging member <NUM> and transfer them to the stretching device <NUM> as described below. The positioning rollers <NUM> are adapted to rotate in concordant direction, each around the respective horizontal axis B-B. In the illustrated embodiment, each positioning roller <NUM> is driven into rotation by a respective motor, for example typically an electronically controlled electric motor, indicated with the reference number <NUM>.

The two positioning rollers <NUM> are movable along the direction f27x so as to move towards and away from each other, thus changing the mutual center-to-center distance. In <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> the center-to-center distance of the rollers <NUM> is minimum. The rollers <NUM> are also movable according to the double arrow f27y parallel to the guide <NUM>. The movement according to f27y may be independent of the movement according to f13 of the slide <NUM>, if the rollers <NUM> are supported independently of the slide <NUM>. The rollers <NUM> may be for example supported by a slide <NUM> movable according to f27y along a guide <NUM> integral to the guide <NUM> and parallel thereto. The slide <NUM> carries a guide <NUM> orthogonal to the guide <NUM>, on which support carriages <NUM> slide, supporting the rollers <NUM> and the respective motors <NUM>, to allow the rollers <NUM> to move according to f27x. The movement of the rollers <NUM> and of the respective carriages <NUM> and motors <NUM> according to f27x is imparted, symmetrically for the two rollers <NUM>, by a pair of linear actuators <NUM>, for example pneumatic cylinder-piston actuators.

On the slide <NUM> an actuator is also carried, controlling the movement according to f27x of the carriages <NUM> and of the respective positioning rollers <NUM>. The slide <NUM> moves forwards and backwards along the direction f13 together with the slide <NUM>. The slide <NUM> also moves according to the double arrow f27y with respect to the slide <NUM>, so that the positioning rollers <NUM> can translate parallel to the guides <NUM> and <NUM> with respect to the slide <NUM>, for purposes that will be explained below. In <FIG>, the reference number <NUM> indicates an actuator controlling the movement according to f27y of the rollers <NUM>, and of the slide <NUM> carrying them, with respect to the slide <NUM>.

The engaging member <NUM> is carried by the slide <NUM> and is therefore movable according to the double arrow f13. In the illustrated embodiment, the engaging member <NUM> comprises a head <NUM>, vertically movable according to the double arrow f41 by means of a mechanism with rack <NUM> and pinion <NUM>, wherein the pinion <NUM> is rotated by an actuator, for example an electric motor <NUM>. The head <NUM> carries an unwinding reel <NUM> and a rewinding reel <NUM> for respectively unwinding and rewinding an adhesive tape <NUM>. The reference number <NUM> indicates a motor driving the rewinding reel <NUM> into rotation. The path of the adhesive tape <NUM> extends around two lower guide rollers <NUM> of small dimensions. The segment of adhesive tape <NUM> comprised between the lower guide rollers <NUM> is used to engage by adhesion the first annular band FA positioned on one of the stacks P stored in the storage space <NUM>, as it will be described with reference to the sequence of <FIG>.

The stretching device <NUM> and the pressure member <NUM> mentioned above are illustrated in detail in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, where the adjacent members have been removed for the sake of clarity of representation. The unit formed by the stretching device <NUM> and the pressure member <NUM> is shown in <FIG> and <FIG> from the side of the carousel <NUM>, whilst in <FIG> it is shown from the opposite side, i.e. from the side of the positioning rollers <NUM>.

As it is clearly apparent from <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the stretching device <NUM> comprises a ring <NUM>, to which stretching elements <NUM> are fastened. In the illustrated embodiment, the stretching elements are in the form of fingers <NUM>, connected to the ring <NUM> through pivoting levers <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the fingers <NUM> are arranged in close position. Here, the fingers <NUM> take a position of maximum reciprocal closeness and are arranged near an axis of the stretching device <NUM>, i.e. an axis of the ring <NUM>. The fingers <NUM> are moved apart to a mutually spaced position (<FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>) for stretching an annular band FA arranged on the stretching device <NUM>. The movement of the fingers <NUM> towards and away from one another is controlled by an actuator <NUM> (<FIG>) of the stretching device <NUM>.

The pressure member <NUM> comprises a ring <NUM> that can take a position coaxial with the ring <NUM> of the stretching device <NUM>. The ring <NUM> of the pressure member <NUM> carries a plurality of pushing elements or pads <NUM> circumferentially arranged around an axis of the ring <NUM> and radially movable, for example controlled by a plurality of pneumatic cylinder-piston actuators <NUM> or in other way. In the illustrated example, an actuator <NUM> is provided for each pad <NUM>.

The loading station <NUM> described above is used to load individual annular bands FA onto each of the seven loading forms <NUM> mounted on the carousel <NUM>. The loading forms <NUM> are preferably equal to one another and one of them is shown alone in <FIG>.

The loading form <NUM> has a substantially circular extension around a central rotation axis C-C. Each loading form <NUM> has a disc-shaped portion, from which a preferably approximately cylindrical side wall extends, which externally defines an outer surface <NUM>, also referred to as loading surface <NUM>. The cylindrical wall <NUM> is interrupted, in two diametrically opposite points, by a pair of recesses or openings <NUM>, which interrupt the loading surface <NUM>. The loading surface <NUM> has a first border <NUM> and a second border <NUM>.

The loading form <NUM> is supported idle, for example through suitable support bearings, on a suction tube <NUM>. The suction tube <NUM> is fastened to the carousel <NUM> through a respective upright <NUM>. The reference number <NUM> indicates a stop device for stopping the loading form <NUM> to prevent it from rotating around the axis C-C with respect to the suction tube <NUM>. The suction tube <NUM> has an upper connection <NUM> internally provided with a perforated sheet or a mesh filter <NUM>. The structure of the loading form <NUM> and the way in which it is supported idle on the lower end of the tube <NUM> may be better understood from the isometric view and partial cross-section of <FIG>.

Having described the structure of the loading station <NUM>, here below the process will be described, according to which an annular band FA is loaded onto the form <NUM> for being subsequently sewn to a knitted article M. The process and the sequence of operations of which it is comprised can be better understood with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>.

Firstly, an annular band FA is taken by the pick-up device <NUM> from the storage space <NUM>. To this end, the pick-up device <NUM> is positioned by the slide <NUM> above the stack P, from which the annular band FA shall be taken. The pick-up device is positioned by keeping the head <NUM> of the engaging member <NUM> lifted (<FIG>). When the head <NUM> of the engaging member <NUM> is above the stack P, from which the annular band FA shall be taken, the head <NUM> is lowered until the adhesive tape <NUM> is pressed by the guide rollers <NUM> against the upper surface of the annular band FA (<FIG>). In this way, the adhesive tape <NUM> is pressed by the guide rollers <NUM> against the outer surface of the annular band FA, making this surface adhere to the adhesive tape <NUM> in two points spaced from each other.

The head <NUM> is then lifted (<FIG>). The annular band FA, adhering to the adhesive tape <NUM>, is lifted together with the head <NUM> of the engaging member <NUM> and opens by gravity, thus taking an approximately circular arrangement. Now, through a movement according to the arrow f27y, keeping the slide <NUM>, and therefore the head <NUM>, still, the positioning rollers <NUM> are inserted into the annular band FA, as shown in <FIG>.

Then, the positioning rollers <NUM> are moved away from each another according to the double arrow f27x, for stretching the annular band FA as shown in <FIG>. When the two positioning rollers <NUM> are made rotate in concordant direction by the motors <NUM>, the annular band FA starts to move according to the arrow indicated in <FIG>. The movement may be in clockwise or counterclockwise direction, indifferently. The purpose of this movement is angularly to position the annular band FA with respect to the positioning rollers <NUM>. For a correct positioning, on the annular band FA a mark MX (<FIG>) may be provided, detectable by a sensor <NUM> (<FIG> and <FIG>). The movement of the positioning rollers <NUM> is stopped when the mark MX is in the desired position, detected by the sensor <NUM>, which generates a signal for stopping the motors <NUM>. The achieved angular position allows loading the annular band FA onto the loading form <NUM> in correct position for the subsequent sewing to the knitted article M.

When the annular band FA has been correctly positioned, it is transferred onto the stretching device <NUM>. To this end, the stretching device <NUM> is initially in the position where the fingers <NUM> are retracted, i.e. adjacent to one another in the position of maximum closeness to the axis of the stretching device <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. Once the fingers <NUM> have been inserted between the positioning rollers <NUM>, the fingers <NUM> enlarge and the positioning rollers <NUM> move towards each other again. Consequently, the annular band FA is transferred onto the fingers <NUM> of the stretching device <NUM> and is kept in stretched position, being arranged according to a polygonal extension, as shown in <FIG>. In this arrangement, the stretching device <NUM> is spaced from the pressure member <NUM>, which can be positioned around one of the loading forms <NUM> that, in the meantime, has been brought by the carousel <NUM> in alignment with the loading station <NUM>.

As it is clearly apparent from <FIG>, for transferring the annular band FA from the stretching device <NUM> to the loading form <NUM>, it is firstly necessary to rotate the stretching device <NUM> around the vertical axis, i.e. around an axis coinciding with the vertical diameter of the ring <NUM> of the stretching device <NUM>. This axis is shown only in <FIG>, and indicated with D-D.

In addition to rotating by <NUM>° around the diameter vertical axis D-D, the stretching device <NUM> is moved towards the pressure member <NUM>, moving along the guide <NUM>, until reaching the position shown in <FIG>. The radial position of the fingers <NUM> is such that they can enter the space defined inside the ring <NUM> of the pressure member <NUM> without interfering therewith. When these movements have been performed, the stretching device <NUM>, the pressure member <NUM> and the annular band FA are in the position shown in <FIG>. In this figure, the loading form <NUM> has been omitted for the sake of clarity of representation. However, the final position is such that the annular band FA, engaged by the fingers <NUM> of the stretching device <NUM>, is around the loading surface <NUM> of the loading form <NUM>, as shown in the cut-away isometric view of <FIG>.

At this point, the pushing elements or pads <NUM> are moved by the actuators <NUM> radially inwards, i.e. towards the axis of the loading form <NUM>, coinciding in this position to the axis of the stretching device <NUM> and to the axis of the pressure member <NUM>. Once the pads <NUM> have been brought to abut against the loading surface <NUM> of the loading form <NUM>, and press the annular band FA against the loading surface <NUM>, the stretching device <NUM> moves away from the pressure member <NUM> and from the loading form <NUM>, thus removing the fingers <NUM> and allowing the annular band FA, which is made of elastic or stretch fabric, to adhere completely to the loading surface <NUM> of the loading form <NUM>. The pressure of the pads <NUM> against the surface <NUM> of the loading form <NUM> is sufficient to hold the annular band FA, preventing it from being removed together with the fingers <NUM> of the stretching device <NUM>. To this end, suitable friction coefficients are adopted for the surface <NUM> and the pads <NUM>.

At this point, the pads <NUM> are moved away from the loading form <NUM> with a radial outward movement. The pressing member <NUM>, that until now has surrounded with the ring <NUM> the loading form <NUM>, moves away from the loading form <NUM> translating along the guide <NUM>. In this way, the loading form <NUM>, onto which the annular band FA has been loaded, can be transferred to the subsequent stations, that will be described below.

<FIG> shows the loading form <NUM> with the annular band FA loaded thereonto and kept on the loading surface <NUM> due to the elasticity effect of the same annular band.

After the loading station for loading the annular band FA onto the loading form <NUM> an operative station is provided for loading the knitted article M onto the loading form <NUM>. This loading station for loading the knitted article M is indicated with the reference number <NUM> in <FIG>, <FIG>.

The loading station <NUM> for loading the knitted article M will be described below with specific reference to <FIG>.

A suction duct <NUM> is associated with the loading station <NUM> for loading the knitted article M; the suction duct <NUM> has a vertical segment coaxial with the axis A-A of the carousel <NUM>, a horizontal segment and a second vertical segment ending with a suction mouth <NUM> that interfaces with the connection <NUM> of each loading form <NUM> that is in turn in the loading station <NUM>. In this way, it is possible to generate a suction through the loading form <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment, the suction duct <NUM> rotates by an angle around the rotation axis A-A of the carousel <NUM>, so as to follow each loading form <NUM> for a given angle of the circular trajectory thereof. The angle corresponds, in general, to the angular distance between two consecutive stations of the machine. In this way, the suction duct <NUM> interfaces with the suction tube <NUM> of each loading form <NUM>, that in turn shall achieve the loading station <NUM>, before having achieved the angular position where the knitted article M is loaded onto the loading form <NUM>. This angular position is illustrated in the plan view of <FIG> and indicated with the reference number <NUM>. The suction duct <NUM> rotates in counterclockwise direction, for example, up to the position of the loading form <NUM> arranged directly upstream of the form that in <FIG> is shown in the loading station <NUM>, i.e. up to the position <NUM> shown in <FIG>. This is a neutral station where each loading form <NUM> arrives while moving from the loading station <NUM> for loading the annular band FA to the loading station <NUM> for loading the knitted article M.

With the suction duct <NUM> a blocking pad <NUM> is associated, radially movable under the control of an actuator <NUM>, for example a cylinder-piston actuator, having the function of blocking the annular band FA that has been previously loaded onto the loading form <NUM>, thus preventing the band from accidentally moving whilst the knitted article M is loaded.

In advantageous embodiments, the blocking pad <NUM> is movable around the axis A-A integrally with the suction duct <NUM>, so as to follow the reciprocating rotation movement of the duct from the neutral station <NUM> to the loading station <NUM> for loading the knitted article M.

Thanks to the angular movement of the suction duct <NUM> and the blocking pad <NUM> from the loading station <NUM> to the neutral station <NUM> and vice versa, it is possible to anticipate the suction action through the suction duct <NUM> and the suction tube <NUM>, as well as the action of the blocking pad <NUM> with respect to the step of loading the knitted article M onto the loading form <NUM>.

The rotation movement around the axis A-A is imparted to the suction duct <NUM> and the blocking pad <NUM> by a linear actuator, for example a cylinder-piston actuator <NUM>. Alternatively, the rotation movement around the axis A-A may be imparted by the carousel <NUM>, to which the suction duct is temporarily coupled to rotate therewith. In this case, a linear actuator <NUM> is provided for bringing every time the duct <NUM> from the loading station <NUM> to the neutral station <NUM> again.

<FIG> shows the action of the blocking pad when it is activated. The blocking pad presses against the first border <NUM> of the loading surface <NUM> keeping by friction the annular band FA in the correct position on the loading form <NUM>. In <FIG> the suction mouth <NUM> has been lowered by an actuator <NUM> until to co-act with the connection <NUM> of the suction tube <NUM> associated with the loading form <NUM> that is in the loading station <NUM>. The lifting and lowering movement of the suction mouth <NUM> (according to the double arrow f95) allows selectively to interface the suction duct <NUM> with the suction tube <NUM> and to release the suction duct <NUM> from the suction tube <NUM> to allow the respective loading form <NUM> to move up to the following station.

When a loading form <NUM>, with the respective annular band FA loaded thereonto, is in the loading station <NUM>, and the blocking pad <NUM> and the suction through the suction duct <NUM> are activated, an operator can manually load the knitted article M as shown in <FIG>. To this end, the loading form <NUM> has a central suction port <NUM> connected to the suction tube <NUM> and the suction duct <NUM>. The operator inserts the leg pieces G of the knitted article M into the central suction port <NUM> and makes the whole knitted article M enter into the suction tube <NUM>, except for the body C. The grid or mesh filter <NUM> prevents the knitted article M from exiting from the side which rotates integrally with the loading form <NUM> together with the carousel <NUM>. Only the end part of the body C is turned inside out and arranged with the open edge MA thereof approximately aligned with the first hem O1 of the annular band FA. <FIG> shows a cross-section of the loading form <NUM> in the loading station <NUM> with the annular band FA and the knitted article M loaded onto the loading form <NUM>. The cross-section has been cut away according to a vertical plane containing the axis C-C of the loading form <NUM>.

Once both the annular band FA and the knitted article M have been loaded onto the loading form <NUM> as described above, the loading form is moved by the carousel <NUM> towards a subsequent sewing station <NUM>, described below.

In the sewing station <NUM> members are provided external to the carousel <NUM>, as shown in particular in the plan view of <FIG> and in the isometric view of <FIG>.

The components of the sewing station and the operation thereof will be now described with specific reference to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, wherein the sequence of <FIG> illustrates in detail the various operations performed to sew together the annular band FA and the knitted article M.

More specifically, in the sewing station <NUM>, outside the carousel <NUM>, a gripping unit <NUM> is provided, which co-acts with the loading form <NUM> that is in turn positioned in the sewing station <NUM>. As it will be better detailed below, the function of the gripping unit <NUM> is to engage the loading form <NUM> and to rotate it, keeping the knitted article M and the annular band FA in position on the loading form during sewing. The rotation movement of the loading form <NUM> allows to sew, through a sewing machine <NUM>, the hem O1 of the annular band FA along the open edge MA of the knitted article M.

The gripping unit <NUM> comprises a dragging head <NUM>, supported rotatable on a bearing structure <NUM>. E-E indicates the horizontal rotation axis of the dragging head <NUM>. The dragging head <NUM> comprises a plurality of sectors or pliers <NUM> arranged around the rotation axis E-E and activated by actuators <NUM>, for example pneumatic cylinder-piston actuators, moving the pliers <NUM> in radial direction towards the axis E-E.

The dragging head <NUM> is supported idle through bearings <NUM> and is driven into rotation by a motor <NUM> through a belt <NUM>, to rotate around the axis E-E (see in particular <FIG>). A rotating joint <NUM> is provided to pneumatically feed the actuators <NUM> when the dragging head <NUM> rotates.

The dragging head is provided with a movement in radial direction with respect to the axis A-A according to the double arrow f113, controlled by an actuator <NUM> that controls the movement of a slide <NUM>, on which the dragging head <NUM> and the respective motor <NUM> are supported.

The operations performed in the sewing station <NUM> are illustrated in the sequence of <FIG> and will be briefly described here below. In <FIG> the loading form <NUM> with the annular band FA and the knitted article M has been aligned with the dragging head <NUM> in the sewing station <NUM>. The sewing machine <NUM> is in front of the dragging head <NUM>. The dragging head <NUM> is moved radially towards the rotation axis A-A of the carousel <NUM> until the pliers <NUM> surround the loading form <NUM> and the sewing machine <NUM> is translated radially outwards and moved towards the loading form <NUM>, see <FIG>.

Then, the pliers <NUM> of the dragging head <NUM> are closed against the loading form <NUM> and the sewing machine <NUM> is moved towards the loading form <NUM>, see <FIG>. In <FIG> a further radial inward movement of the dragging head <NUM> is shown, for making the annular band FA and the body of the knitted article M slide towards the axis A-A so as to increase, if necessary, the fabric portion of the annular band FA and of the knitted article M projecting from the first border <NUM> of the loading surface for facilitating sewing. The sewing machine <NUM> is also further moved towards the loading form <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the relative position of the various members in the sewing station <NUM> during sewing. Sewing is performed by rotating the dragging head <NUM> around the axis E-E by means of the motor <NUM>. The dragging head <NUM> drives the loading form <NUM>, with the annular band FA and the knitted article M loaded thereon, into rotation with respect to the sewing machine <NUM>. During rotation, the machine <NUM> performs sewing. To obtain this rotation, the loading form <NUM>, that up to now has been prevented from rotating by the actuator <NUM>, may be freed to rotate idle around the axis of the same loading form.

In <FIG> the sewing machine moves away to allow cutting the chain and rotating and correctly phasing the loading form <NUM> for the subsequent operations. In <FIG> the pliers <NUM> of the dragging head <NUM> open, after the loading form <NUM> has been locked again by the actuator 83to prevent rotation thereof.

Lastly, as shown in <FIG>, the dragging head <NUM> and the sewing machine <NUM> completely move away from the loading form <NUM>, allowing the loading form to be transferred, through rotation of the carousel <NUM>, to the subsequent unloading station <NUM>, whose components and operation will be described below.

The structure of the unloading station <NUM> for unloading the finished garment I from the loading form <NUM> will be now described with initial reference to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>. <FIG> is an isometric view of the unloading station <NUM> with a loading form <NUM> positioned therein. <FIG> is a view according to a vertical plane containing the rotation axis A-A of the carousel <NUM>. <FIG> shows a view according to a plane orthogonal to the plane of the view of <FIG>, with some components of the unloading station <NUM> omitted for the sake of simplicity of representation. The sequence shown in <FIG>, shows the operations performed in the unloading station <NUM> and will be described below.

The unloading station <NUM> comprises a bearing structure <NUM>, on which members are carried, which are intended to engage the garment I loaded onto the loading form <NUM> and comprising the annular band FA and the knitted article M, and to remove the garment I from the loading form <NUM>.

More specifically, on the bearing structure <NUM> two removing members <NUM> are mounted for removing the knitted article M with the elastic band FA sewn thereto. The two removing members are constituted by, or comprise, respective two pairs of unloading fingers <NUM>. Here below, reference number <NUM> will specifically indicate the two pairs of unloading fingers. These pairs are movable with respect to each other in horizontal direction and are part of two removing members, to move towards and away from each other. The fingers are movable along a crossbar <NUM> carried by the bearing structure <NUM>, to which guides <NUM> are fastened for the sliding of carriages <NUM>, onto which the two pairs of fingers <NUM> are mounted. Actuators <NUM>, for example pneumatic cylinder-piston actuators, control the movement of the two carriages <NUM> towards and away from each other, and therefore the movement of the two pairs of fingers <NUM> in direction f139. On each carriage <NUM> a pad <NUM> is hinged, co-acting with the respective pair of fingers <NUM>. Each pad is controlled by an actuator <NUM>, for example a pneumatic cylinder-piston actuator, carried by the respective carriage <NUM>, to push against the pair of fingers <NUM> or to move away therefrom.

The crossbar <NUM> is carried by a slide <NUM> movable along a guide <NUM>. The double arrow f151 indicates the movement of the slide <NUM> in a direction orthogonal to the crossbar <NUM> and radial with respect to the rotation axis A-A of the carousel <NUM>. The movement of the slide <NUM> is controlled by a motor <NUM> fastened to the bearing structure <NUM>.

On the bearing structure <NUM> a pair of unloading rollers <NUM> is carried, which are parallel to each other and have horizontal axes. The unloading rollers <NUM> are supported by a crossbar <NUM> carried by a vertical column <NUM> with axis F-F. Through a motor <NUM>, the vertical column <NUM> rotates the crossbar <NUM> around the axis F-F.

The operations for unloading the garment from the unloading form <NUM> performed in the unloading station <NUM> will be now described with reference to the sequence of <FIG>.

As indicated above, <FIG> show two views of the unloading station <NUM> and of the loading form <NUM> positioned thereinside. For more clarity of representation, the mechanical structures associate with the loading form <NUM> have been omitted, as well as the unloading rollers <NUM> and the respective bearing structure. In the step illustrated in <FIG>, the fingers <NUM> and the pads <NUM> are in spread apart position and outside the loading form <NUM>, i.e. in a position of greater distance from the axis A-A than the loading form <NUM>. This spaced position allows inserting the loading form <NUM> into the unloading station <NUM>.

Then, the slide <NUM> is translated towards the rotation axis A-A of the carousel <NUM> up to bring the fingers <NUM> and the pads <NUM> in a position comprised between the loading form <NUM> and the rotation axis A-A of the carousel <NUM>, i.e. behind the loading form <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. In this position, the carriages <NUM> move towards each other, thus moving the two pairs of fingers <NUM> towards each other, whilst the pads <NUM> are in spaced position with respect to the respective fingers <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, following this movement of the carriages <NUM> towards each other, the fingers <NUM> are positioned inside a cylindrical surface constituting an ideal extension of the loading surface <NUM> of the loading form <NUM>, whilst the pads <NUM> are outside this cylindrical surface.

In <FIG> the slide <NUM> is translated in opposite direction, until to bring the fingers <NUM> inside the cylindrical wall <NUM> of the loading form <NUM>, whilst the pads <NUM> are positioned laterally outside the cylindrical wall <NUM>. It should be noted that the angular position of the loading form <NUM> is such that the recesses <NUM> are aligned with the fingers <NUM>. This allows the fingers <NUM> to move away from one another through a symmetrical movement of the carriages <NUM>. With this movement, the fingers <NUM> pass through the recesses or openings <NUM> and move externally to the cylindrical wall <NUM> and to the loading surface <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The pads <NUM> are still spaced from the fingers <NUM>. This stretching movement of the pairs of fingers <NUM> make the annular band FA and the body C of the knitted article M stretch on the fingers <NUM> and partially move away from the loading surface <NUM> of the loading form <NUM>.

In the subsequent step, shown in <FIG>, the pads <NUM> are activated by the actuators <NUM> and pushed against the fingers <NUM>, so that the garment I, formed by the annular band FA and by the knitted article M, is pinched against the two pairs of fingers <NUM>.

At this point, as the fingers <NUM> and the pads <NUM> are outside the loading form <NUM>, the slide <NUM> can be radially translated outwards moving away from the rotation axis A-A of the carousel <NUM>, up to the position shown in <FIG>, spaced from the loading form <NUM>. The garment I is thus unloaded from the loading surface <NUM> of the loading form <NUM>, whilst the annular band FA and the body C of the knitted article M remain engaged by the fingers <NUM>, pressed against the fingers by the pads <NUM>. The leg pieces G are still inside the suction tube <NUM>. In the space formed between the fingers <NUM> and the loading form <NUM> it is possible to insert a rod <NUM>, supported rotatably on the bearing structure <NUM>. The rod <NUM> can rotate around a horizontal axis (arrow f165 in <FIG>) controlled by an actuator, for example a pneumatic cylinder-piston actuator <NUM>, to move from a vertical position (<FIG>) to a horizontal position (<FIG>).

From the position shown in <FIG>, the rod <NUM> moves vertically downwards due to the movement of a slide <NUM>, on which the rod <NUM> and the actuator <NUM> are mounted. The reference number <NUM> indicates the guide, along which the slide <NUM> moves. The lowering movement (arrow f165X in <FIG>) causes the complete removal of the leg pieces G from the suction tube <NUM>.

<FIG> show a further movement of the slide <NUM>, following which the annular band FA and the body C of the knitted article M are brought onto the unloading rollers <NUM>. Once the position shown in <FIG> has been achieved, the pads <NUM> and the fingers <NUM> can free the garment I, which is thus transferred to the unloading rollers <NUM>. Unloading is performed by moving the pads <NUM> away from the fingers <NUM> and making the fingers rotate around respective vertical axes.

Claim 1:
A method for assembling a fabric annular band (FA), comprising a first hem (O1) and a second hem (O2), and a knitted article (M), having a body (C) and two leg pieces (G), said body ending with an open edge (MA) intended to be joined to the annular band (FA) along the first hem (O1); the method comprising the following steps:
loading an annular band (FA) onto a loading form (<NUM>) having an approximately cylindrical outer loading surface (<NUM>) extending around a central rotation axis (C-C) of the loading form (<NUM>), said loading surface (<NUM>) being delimited between a first border (<NUM>) and a second border (<NUM>); wherein the annular band (FA) is released onto the loading form (<NUM>) so that the first hem (O1) of the annular band (FA) is near the first border (<NUM>) of the loading surface;
loading a portion of the body (C) of the knitted article (M) around the loading form (<NUM>) superimposed on the annular band (FA), with the open edge (MA) aligned with the first hem (O1) of the annular band (FA);
joining together the first hem (O1) of the annular band (FA) and the open edge (MA) of the body (C); and
unloading, from the loading form (<NUM>), the knitted article (M) with the annular band (FA) sewn thereto.