Method and apparatus for steaming on forms hosiery articles and the like

Abstract

 The apparatus comprises a carousel (1), rotatable about a central axis (2) with respect to a base frame (3). To the carousel (1) many couples of forms (4 and 4') are connected, cantilever mounted, which follow a circular trajectory indicated as dotted line. The couples of forms (4 and 4') can be arranged, radially or parallel to each other, on the carousel substantially according to the sides of a polygon. The forms have anatomical shape like a leg with foot end and are stiff enough from staying vertical oriented towards the above. The carousel moves through a loading station (5) of the stockings on the forms (4,4'), a station (6) for stretching the stockings on the forms; a steaming station (7), for steaming the stockings; an air drying station (8) and an outlet station (9) of the finished articles. At each station of the carousel the tights present on the couples of forms (4 and 4') are treated at the same time or in turn. The carousel (1) comprises a tubular body (10) having a prismatic wall (11), pivotally connected to the base frame (3). The wall (11) has the main function of rotating, and then to be the frame of the carousel (1), and it holds also radially the forms (4) arranged as cantilevers so that they do not extend from the bases. A steaming chamber (20,20') is provided that can move from an open position that allows the free rotation of the forms (4,4') to a closed position that embraces completely both couples of forms (4,4') sealingly contacts the wall (11).

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for steaming on forms hosiery articles and the like. The method is used in steaming and packaging lines of articles such as stockings, tights, knee socks, panty hose, leotards, socks and other articles, capable of being fixed automatically on forms.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to an apparatus that carries out this method. In particular, the invention relates to a machine with a plurality of forms that move through a loading station, a stretching station, a steaming station, a drying station and finally an unloading station of the finished articles for packaging.

Description of the prior art

[0003] Automatic or semi-automatic machines are known for finishing hosiery articles on forms arranged vertically on a carousel with several stations.

[0004] The carousel carries in turn the forms through:

• a loading station, where the articles are put unstretched on the forms;
• a positioning station for stretching the articles on the forms;
• a steaming station, where the forms with the articles are heated with steam;
• a drying station, in a chamber heated by warm air,
• an outlet station of the dried and fixed articles extracted from the forms.

[0005] To increase productivity and also to increase the time of presence of the tights on the forms, the carousels may have several couples of forms, for example 8, 10, 12 and more.

[0006] In particular, in WO2001/71082, in the name of the same applicant, an apparatus is described for steaming stockings and tights comprising:

• a plurality of forms arranged along the boundary of a carousel radially with respect to the carousel axis;
• a wall that extends tangentially with respect to the axis and is next to the forms;
• a plurality of stations where in turn the forms stop;
• a steaming chamber arranged in one of the stations and having a radial opening oriented towards the wall;
• means for moving radially the steaming chamber, in order to engage the forms through the radial opening until the latter sealingly contacts the wall, and then for withdrawing the chamber after the steaming step;
• means for feeding vapour in the steaming chamber when that is sealingly closed against the wall.

[0007] In the apparatus above described, in the steaming chamber one form at a time enters. For this reason the article stays in the steaming chamber the minimum time necessary, in order not to lengthen too much the cycle time.

[0008] For certain types of hosiery articles, however, the article is required to remain more in the steaming chamber, to allow the fibres to stretch completely before drying. This extends the cycle time and therefore the costs.

Summary of the invention

[0009] It is therefore object of the present invention to provide a method for steaming on forms hosiery articles, where the articles remain in the steaming chamber for a time double with respect to the existing machines without reducing productivity.

[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide such a method where the steaming chamber has size as minimum as possible to assure a good steaming quality, without increasing the consumption of energy for the production of vapour.

[0011] It is also object of the present invention to provide a steaming machine on forms of hosiery articles that is capable of achieving the same objects.

[0012] According to a first aspect of the invention, a method for steaming hosiery articles and the like comprises the steps of:

• arranging a plurality of forms on the boundary of a carousel rotatable about a driven axis, next to the forms a wall being present that extends tangentially with respect to said axis;
• moving at least two couples of forms at a time through a plurality of stations one of which is a steaming station, comprising at least one steaming chamber having at least one radial opening;
• radially moving said or each steaming chamber relative to the steaming station, for embracing through said or each radial opening all the forms present in the steaming station;
• stopping the radial movement as said or each radial opening sealingly contacts the wall;
• feeding vapour into said or each steaming chamber;
• radially moving said or each steaming chamber away from the wall releasing the forms in it present and allowing the rotation of the carousel.

[0013] The carousel has advantageously the couples of forms two by two parallel and oriented towards the central part of the carousel, whereby in each station two articles are treated at the same time.

[0014] According to another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for steaming hosiery articles and the like comprises:

• a carousel rotatable about a driven axis;
• a plurality of forms arranged along the boundary of the carousel and oriented towards the central part of the carousel, next to the forms a wall being present that extends tangentially with respect to said axis; the couples of forms being at least two by two parallel;
• a plurality of stations where in turn at least two couples of forms at a time stop, in each station at least two articles being treated;
• at least one steaming chamber arranged in one of the stations and having at least one radial opening oriented towards the wall;
• means for moving radially said or each steaming chamber, in order to engage the forms through said or each radial opening and until the latter sealingly contacts the wall, and then for withdrawing said or each chamber after the steaming step;
• means for feeding vapour into said or each steaming chamber when that is sealingly closed against the wall.

[0015] Preferably a single steaming chamber is provided having two recesses communicating with each other, each equipped with an opening oriented towards the wall and through which a couple of forms can enter.

[0016] Preferably, said tangential wall has tubular prismatic shape, with polygonal cross section having as many sides as the number of stations of said carousel.

[0017] The prismatic wall can define a closed space within the carousel, the closed space can be used as channel for conveying a warm air flow through the drying chamber.

Brief description of the drawings

[0018] Further features and advantages of the method and of the apparatus according to the present invention, for steaming hosiery articles and the like, will be made clearer with the following description of an embodiment thereof, exemplifying but not limitative, with reference to attached drawings wherein:

• figure 1 shows a top plan view of a steaming machine for stockings according to the invention with a plurality of couples of forms belonging to a carousel with several stations and arranged radially;
• figure 2 shows a partial view of the engagement/disengagement steps of the steaming chamber with respect to the forms in the steaming station;
• figure 3 is an elevational view of the carousel cross sectioned according to arrows III-III of figure 1;
• figure 4 is an elevational view of the carousel cross sectioned according to arrows IV-IV of figure 1;

Description of a preferred embodiment

[0019] With reference to figures 1, 3 and 5, an apparatus for steaming stockings and tights comprises a carousel 1 rotatable about a central axis 2 with respect to a base frame 3. Hereinafter reference is made only to the tights, being it clear that the same aspects can relate stockings and other similar articles.

[0020] To carousel 1 sixteen couples of forms 4 and 4' are cantilever connected, thus following a circular trajectory indicated with a dotted line. The couples of forms 4 and 4' are arranged parallel to each other on the carousel substantially according to the sides of an octagon. The forms have an anatomical shape of leg with foot at the end and are stiff enough from staying vertical with foot oriented towards the above. At each station of the carousel the tights present on the couples of forms 4 and 4' are treated at the same time or in turn.

[0021] In particular the following are provided:

• a loading station 5 with relative loading unit of the stockings to steam on forms 4 and 4'; the loading unit first loading the stockings on forms 4 and then on forms 4' (or vice versa),
• a double station 6 for stretching the stockings on forms 4, carried out by a special unit that operates on both the tights on forms 4 and the tights on forms 4';
• a steaming station 7, where at the same time both the tights on forms 4 and the tights on forms 4' are steamed,
• an air drying station 8 that extends for about 180°, for four full steps of the carousel; and
• an outlet station 9 of the finished articles, wherein an unloading unit first unloads the stockings from forms 4 and then from forms 4' (or vice versa),

[0022] Carousel 1 comprises a tubular body 10 having walls 11 arranged as an octagonal prismatic tube. The carousel is pivotally connected by means of bearings 12 to the base frame 3 (figure 3 and 4). The rotation of carousel 1 is obtained by means of a pinion gear 13 mounted on the base frame 3 by means of a support 14 and operated by a motor 15.

[0023] Forms 4 are cantilevered on the wall 11 by means of cantilevers 16. Stretching devices 17 for the panty are arranged at the side of cantilevers 16, arranged between each couple of forms 4 and suitable for folding the panty of the tights in the forms.

[0024] Wall 11, besides having the function of carrying the forms, has also the task of supporting radially forms 4 by cantilevers 16 without that the forms extend directly from the base, with less encumbrance and without problems of sealing the base in the steaming chamber.

[0025] In figures 1 and 5 the loading unit 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, is shown present in station 5, that loads the stockings with known systems, and thus not described in detail, firstly onto forms 4 and then onto forms 4'.

[0026] In the stretching station 6 (figure 1), devices 18 of known type are provided, and for this reason not described in detail, suitable for stretching the stockings and the panty in the case of panty hoses or tights, adjusting first a tights on forms 4 and then a tights on forms 4'.

[0027] With reference to steaming station 7, the steaming chamber comprises two chambers defined by walls 20 and 20' (figure 2), each having an U-shaped cross section, with apertures 21 and 21' oriented radially towards the axis 2 and having sealing edges 22. Chambers 20 and 20' are closed up and down but communicate with each other and are fed by vapour through flexible ducts 24.

[0028] Chambers 20 and 20' are kept suspended to a guide and moved by connecting rods 25 and crank levers 26 (figure 3). A vertical shaft 27 is integral to crank levers 26 and is pivotally connected in the carousel 1 mounted by a bearing 28 to the base frame 3. A motor 29 rotates vertical shaft 27 causing crank levers 26 to rotate and then reciprocating chambers 20 and 20' by connecting rod 25.

[0029] The steaming chamber formed by walls 20 and 20' can move from an open position, indicated in figure 2 with continuous line, up to a closed position, indicated in figure 2 with dotted line. In the open position it does not interfere with forms 4 and 4', and it allows their free rotation integrally to wall 11. In the closed position it embraces completely forms 4 and 4' and their support that are located in the steaming station 7, and the apertures 21 and 21' must sealingly contact wall 11, by sealing edges 22.

[0030] Cylindrical wall 11 has then the third function of closing the steaming chamber defined by walls 20 and 20'. It has faces arranged as a prism, in particular flat faces, whereby sealing edges 22 effectively seal the chamber and bear the pushing action of connecting rod 25, for sustaining the pressure thrust of the vapour.

[0031] Furthermore, wall 11 has a fourth function of supporting devices 30, one for each couple of forms 4, which operate mechanical fingers 31, which in some stations radially extend towards outside for supporting the article or for aiding the loading step. In particular, in case of tights, mechanical fingers 31 keep the panty during the loading step, for then allowing the device 18 and 19 to stretch it.

[0032] Alternatively, in case of stockings, socks or knee socks, such devices provide friction arms not shown. In any case, wall 11 moves integrally to forms 4 and supports a desired device that has, in one or more stations, auxiliary functions additional to the functions of the forms same, with the advantage that this device follows the forms without creating encumbrance.

[0033] With reference to figure 1 and 4, in the drying stations 8 a drying chamber 40 is formed between doors 41 and wall 11, using heating elements 42 (figure 4).

[0034] This way, wall 11 has the fifth function of defining drying chamber 40 and the sixth function of allowing the drying warm air to circulate without the need of specially provided ducts.

[0035] As shown in figure 3, the stockings (not shown) present in the unloading station 9 are drawn from the above in a known way by an extraction unit having rollers 45, not described in detail because of known type. In this case, the device 17 for stretching the panty opens and allows the tights to disengage from forms 4 as well as it widens the panty to allow the steamed stockings to be correctly extracted by unit 45.

[0036] Notwithstanding reference has been made to a single steaming chamber, formed by two recesses defined by walls 20 and 20', communicating with each other, it is not excluded that said recess are independent, and that vapour can be fed separately. It is not excluded also that a single wall is provided that defines a single recess that embraces at the same time the two couples of forms 4 and 4'.

[0037] The foregoing description of a specific embodiment will so fully reveal the invention according to the conceptual point of view, so that others, by applying current knowledge, will be able to modify and/or adapt for various applications such an embodiment without further research and without parting from the invention, and it is therefore to be understood that such adaptations and modifications will have to be considered as equivalent to the specific embodiment. The means and the materials to realise the different functions described herein could have a different nature without, for this reason, departing from the field of the invention. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Claims

1. A method for steaming on forms hosiery articles and the like characterised in that it comprises the steps of:

- arranging a plurality of forms on the boundary of a carousel rotatable about a driven axis, next to the forms a wall being present that extends tangentially with respect to said axis;

- moving at least two couples of forms at a time through a plurality of stations one of which is a steaming station comprising at least one steaming chamber having at least one radial opening;

- radially moving said or each steaming chamber with respect to the steaming station, for embracing through said or each radial opening all the forms present in the steaming station;

- stopping the radial movement as said or each radial opening sealingly contacts the wall;

- feeding vapour into said or each steaming chamber;

- radially moving said or each steaming chamber away from the wall, thus releasing the forms in it present and allowing the rotation of the carousel.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said carousel has the couples of forms two by two parallel and oriented towards the central part of the carousel, whereby in each station two articles are treated at the same time.

3. An apparatus for steaming hosiery articles and the like characterised in that it comprises:

- a carousel rotatable about a driven axis;

- a plurality of forms arranged along the boundary of the carousel and oriented towards the central part of the carousel, next to the forms a wall being present that extends tangentially with respect to said axis; the couples of forms being at least two by two parallel;

- a plurality of stations where in turn at least two couples of forms at a time stop, in each station at least two articles being treated;

- at least one steaming chamber arranged in one of the stations and having at least one radial opening oriented towards the wall;

- means for moving radially said or each steaming chamber, in order to engage the forms through said or each radial opening and until the latter sealingly contacts the wall, and then for withdrawing said or each chamber after the steaming step;

- means for feeding vapour into said or each steaming chamber when the latter is sealingly closed against the wall.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a single steaming chamber is provided having two recesses communicating with each other, each equipped with an opening oriented towards the wall and through which a couple of forms can enter.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said tangential wall has tubular prismatic shape, with polygonal cross section having as many sides as the number of stations of said carousel.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein on each flat face of the prismatic wall devices are mounted for holding the articles in a stretched position in the steaming chamber.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said prismatic wall defines a closed space within the carousel, the closed space being used as channel for conveying warm air around said forms.

8. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said carousel has couples of forms two by two parallel and oriented towards the central part of the carousel, whereby in each station two articles are treated at the same time.

Drawing