Abstract: A hosiery handling apparatus for separating individual hosiery articles from a continuous tubular hosiery string and thereafter transporting the separated articles to a remote location includes a control circuit for interrupting operation in the event of a malfunction in the separation of the hosiery string. The control circuit preferably includes an advance switch for detecting passage of a separated article to the remote location and a stop action switch connected in series with the advance switch and responsive to movement of the separating assembly. When a separated article fails to be transported to the remote location, the control circuit terminates operation of the machine.

Abstract: A hosiery inspecting, everting, separating and stacking apparatus including a U-shaped, elongated, tubular form axially pivoted adjacent one end for oscillatory movement in a vertical plane between a loading, intermediate inspecting and everting position and a separating and stacking position. Hosiery from a knitting machine is placed on the U-shaped tubular form in the loading position while still in a continuous string. Pulling the hosiery on the form over the open end and bunching the string on the form is facilitated by inducing egress of air during the loading operation. The form containing the hosiery string is moved during each cycle from the inspecting position where everting is performed by vacuum to a separating position where separation is preferably formed by a pulling-off operation with breaking of a knitted connector ring attaching the hose to the string.