Removal device for stocking fixing machine

Abstract

 A removal device for machines for fixing stockings, which include a carousel (2) on which pairs of supports (3) are peripherally distributed, to support respective stockings. The removal device includes a guiding means (41) which is arranged vertically and peripherally with respect to the carousel (2), at a removal station (E) of a fixing machine. A carriage (53) can move with a reciprocating motion on the guiding means (41) under the actuation of a motor unit (47) which is controlled electronically by virtue of an encoder means (49). The carriage (43) supports a gripper assembly (50) provided with a clamp-type gripper means (51) which is suitable to grip the stockings fitted on the supports (3) in order to remove the stockings from the supports (3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for removing stockings from corresponding supports in machines for fixing women's stockings, particularly pantyhose and the like.

[0002] It is known that stockings are subjected, during production, to a series of heat treatments which are meant to give the stockings suitable characteristics. In particular, the stockings are subjected to a fixing treatment which gives the stockings a permanent configuration. In order to provide this fixing, the stockings are fitted and stretched on suitable supports and then subjected to the heat treatment, for example by virtue of suitable pressurized steam chambers.

[0003] Automatic machines for fixing stockings are currently known which are substantially constituted by a carousel provided with suitable supports which are distributed along the peripheral region of the carousel and on which the stockings are fitted and stretched. The rotation of the carousel conveys the stockings fitted on the supports into a fixing chamber, for example of the pressurized steam type, and then into a drying chamber. The stockings are then removed from the fixing supports and sent to the subsequent packaging steps.

[0004] The fixing supports are preferably formed by solid profiles made of metallic material which reproduce for example the contour of the stockings to be produced.

[0005] The stockings are removed from the fixing supports automatically by a removal device which acts in a suitable station located after the drying chamber.

[0006] Conventional removal devices have clamp-type gripper assemblies which are suitable to grip the stockings fitted on the supports and to remove the stockings from the supports. In particular, conventional removal devices generally have two clamp-type gripper assemblies which are arranged at different heights and can move vertically under the actuation of respective pneumatic devices. The removal of the stockings from the supports in fact usually requires at least two grip and removal steps performed at different heights along the supports starting from a lower level at the panties of the stockings.

[0007] The presence of two different gripper assemblies, operating in suitable mutual phase relationship, arises from the need to ensure a suitable operating speed with respect to the stepwise advancement speed of the carousel that carries the supports. This of course entails a greater structural complexity of the removal device, with corresponding greater burdens for maintenance interventions and the like, and proportionally high costs.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is to solve the above problem, providing a device which allows to automatically remove the stockings from corresponding supports in machines for fixing women's stockings, so as to achieve a considerable structural simplification and a high operating speed.

[0009] Within the scope of this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a removal device which is simple in concept, safely reliable in operation and versatile in use.

[0010] This aim this object and others which will become apparent hereinafter, are achieved, according to the present invention, by a removal device for machines for fixing stockings, as defined in claim 1.

[0011] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the removal device for machines for fixing stockings, illustrated by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a machine for fixing women's stockings provided with the removal device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the removal device of the present invention.

[0012] With particular reference to the above figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a machine for fixing stockings, particularly pantyhose. The machine 1 has a circular carousel 2 which is provided with a plurality of pairs of supports 3 which are distributed along the peripheral region of the carousel 2. The carousel 2 is supported, so that it can rotate about a vertical axis, on a footing which is formed by a fixed frame 4 and is suitable to be driven stepwise at a series of treatment stations where the stockings fitted on the supports 3 are handled and subjected to heat treatment.

[0013] The supports 3 are formed for example by solid profiles made of metallic material, preferably aluminum, which have a straight profile or reproduce, at the top, the contour of the foot of the stockings to be produced. However, it is possible to provide for use of the device with tubular supports as well.

[0014] In particular, the supports 3 are carried by the carousel 2 at a station C for loading the stockings onto the supports 3; at a station T for stretching the stockings on the supports 3; at a station F for fixing the stockings inside a steam fixing chamber 5; at a series of drying stations A inside a corresponding drying chamber 6; and at a station E for removing the stockings from the supports 3 for transfer to a suitable output unit 7.

[0015] The stockings to be treated are fitted on the supports 3, at the loading station C, by virtue of a device 10 for loading and checking the stockings.

[0016] Downstream of the loading station C, before entering the steam fixing chamber 5, the stockings fitted on the supports 3 are engaged by a tensioner 20 which is provided with a clamp-type gripper assembly 30 which is suitable to grip and uniformly tension the stockings on the supports 3.

[0017] A device 40 suitable to remove the treated stockings from the supports 3 operates in the removal station E.

[0018] The removal device 40 includes a post 41 which is arranged peripherally with respect to the carousel 2 and forms a vertical guide on which a carriage 43 is mounted so that it can slide by virtue of a set of wheels 42. The carriage 43 is suitable to be actuated with a reciprocating motion by virtue of a flexible drive 44 which is constituted by a toothed belt which wraps around two pulleys 45a, 45b which are supported, at the opposite ends of the guiding post 41, so that they can rotate about parallel horizontal axes; the carriage 43 is fixed to a portion of the belt 44 by virtue of a toothed plate 46.

[0019] The belt 44 is driven by an electric motor 47 which is suitable to actuate the lower pulley 45a by virtue of a suitable reduction unit 48.

[0020] At the upper pulley 45b an encoder 49 is provided which is suitable to convert the angular position of the pulley 45b into digital data meant to be acquired by an electronic control means, not shown.

[0021] The carriage 43 supports an assembly, generally designated by the reference numeral 50, for gripping the stockings to be removed from the supports 3. The gripper assembly 50 is substantially constituted by a clamp which is formed by two jaws 51 which are articulated, at one end, to a respective hinge member 52. The hinge members 52 are rigidly coupled, in an adjustable position, to an upper cross-member 53 of the carriage 43. The jaws 51 are provided, at their free end, with respective pads 54 made of elastic material, which are meant to grip the stockings without damaging the fabrics.

[0022] The jaws 51 of the clamp can be actuated by corresponding actuators 55 which are rigidly coupled to the cross-member 53 and are axially aligned with the hinge members 52, so as to rotate between a spaced open position and a closed active position in which the jaws 51 are parallel and are arranged so as to face each other on a vertical plane.

[0023] The operation of the removal device of the invention can be easily understood from the above description.

[0024] The supports 3 provided with the treated stockings are carried in succession by the carousel 2, which can rotate stepwise, at the removal station E, where the removal device 40 operates. The pairs of supports 3 are arranged, during this step, so as to be mutually adjacent on parallel vertical planes which lie transversely to the median vertical plane of the removal device 40.

[0025] The clamp-type gripper assembly 50 initially has spaced open jaws 51 so as to not interfere with the advancement of the supports 3 carried by the carousel 2. The carriage 43, actuated by the motor 47 by virtue of the belt drive 44, is moved along the guiding post 41 so as to place the gripper unit 50 at the intended height, for example at the panties of the stockings. A suitable sensor means checks the presence of the stockings on the supports 3, allowing to perform the intended operating cycle.

[0026] When a corresponding pair of supports 3 has reached the preset holding position in the removal station E, the closure of the jaws 51 of the gripper assembly 50 is actuated so as to clamp, by virtue of the pads 54, the stocking fitted on the supports 3.

[0027] A suitable upward stroke of the carriage 43 is then actuated in order to produce a partial removal of the stockings, clamped between the pads 54, from the supports 3. The jaws 51 of the gripper assembly 50 are returned to the open position, releasing the stockings, in order to allow the carriage 43 to move along the guiding post 41 into another preset position. The jaws 51 are then actuated again to close on the stockings and a new upward stroke of the carriage 43 is then performed in order to complete the removal of the stockings, which are transferred, as they leave the supports 3, to the unit 7, which transfers them to the subsequent packaging steps.

[0028] The described device therefore allows to remove the stockings from the fixing supports 3 by virtue of a single gripper assembly 50. This is allowed by the fact that the carriage 43 that supports the gripper assembly 50 is actuated, by virtue of the transmission belt 44, by the electric motor 47, which is subjected to electronic control by virtue of the encoder 49 which detects the angular position of the driven pulley 45b.

[0029] It is therefore possible to suitably program the movements of the carriage 43, which can sequentially perform strokes of a preset extent starting from any preset position along the post 41, so as to achieve optimum results with different models and sizes of stockings. The carriage 43 is actuated at a controlled speed which is significantly higher than the speed attainable in conventional removal devices.

[0030] The presence of a single gripper assembly obviously entails a considerable structural simplification of the device and proportionally reduced costs.

[0031] In the practical execution of the invention, the materials used, as well as the shape and the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements.

[0032] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A removal device for a machine for fixing stockings, of the type which comprises a carousel (2) on which a series of paired supports (3) are peripherally distributed, to support respective stockings, characterized in that the removal device comprises a guiding means (41) which is arranged vertically and peripherally with respect to said carousel (2), at a removal station (E) of the machine for fixing stockings; a carriage (43) which can move with a reciprocating motion on said guiding means (41) under the actuation of a motor unit (47) which is controlled electronically by an encoder means (49); a gripper assembly (50) which is supported by said carriage (43) and is provided with a clamp-type gripper means (51) which is suitable to grip said stockings fitted on said supports (3) in order to remove said stockings from said supports (3).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said carriage (43) is actuated with a reciprocating motion by virtue of a flexible drive (44) which is constituted by a toothed belt which wraps around a pair of pulleys (45a, 45b) which are supported, at the opposite ends of said guiding means (41), so that they can rotate about parallel horizontal axes, said flexible drive (44) being moved by said motor unit (47) at a first driving pulley (45a) of said pair of pulleys and being coupled to said encoder means (49) at a second driven pulley (45b) of said pair of pulleys.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said encoder means (49) comprises an encoder unit which is suitable to convert the angular position of a means (45b) for transmitting motion to said carriage (43) into digital data meant to be acquired by an electronic control means.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said supports (3) are carried by said carousel (2) at said removal station (E) so that they are mutually adjacent on mutually parallel vertical planes which lie transversely to the median vertical plane of said guiding means (41).

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said gripper means (51) has a clamp with two jaws (51) which are articulated at one end, about a vertical axis, to a respective hinge member (52) which is rigidly coupled to said carriage (43) and can be actuated by actuators (55) so as to rotate between a spaced open position and a closed active position, in which said jaws (51) are parallel and face each other on a vertical plane.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said guiding means (41) comprises a post (41) which forms a vertical guide on which said carriage (43) is mounted so that it can slide by virtue of a set of wheels (42).

Drawing