Abstract: A turning device for tubular knitted articles, particularly for sewing or looping stations for the automated closing of tubular articles at an axial end thereof comprising a lower portion and an upper portion, which are arranged respectively below and above an intermediate region at which elements are or can be positioned for supporting the tubular article to be turned, which hangs at one of its axial ends and is arranged substantially vertically, a tubular body, which can be inserted from the bottom upwardly, with its upper axial end, through the axial end of the article that hangs from the supporting elements, so as to evert the article onto the outer lateral surface of the tubular body, extracting it progressively from the upper axial end of the tubular body.

Abstract: A device has been realized for turning tubular textile products inside out, in which a tubular body (22), designed for the purpose, is moved between an idle position and a working position for executing this operation. Active means of suction on the tubular body (22) create a flow of air inside said body when it is in its operative position, and pick-up means (21), placed at the operative position of the tubular body (22), hold the textile product (3) and fit it externally onto the tubular body. Once the product (3) has been fitted onto the tubular body (22), this latter moves from the working position towards the idle position gradually drawing on the textile product and thus completely automating the reversing process.

Abstract: A hosiery item spreading unit with pneumatic feed, usable with pneumatic hosiery item conveyance systems equipped with a centralized suction, comprising: a structure which forms an elongated spreading chamber arranged with its longitudinal axis substantially horizontal and provided, at its longitudinal ends, respectively with a first opening, connected to a duct for feeding the hosiery item to be spread, and with a second opening, connected to a suction duct which can be connected to suction means; the spreading chamber being closed, in a downward region, by a door which can be opened on command to remove the spread hosiery item and containing also elements for gripping a longitudinal end of the hosiery item which are spaced from the first opening towards the second opening.

Abstract: A continuous and uninterrupted process for knitting a plurality of cylindrical blanks, automatically transferring the knit blanks sequentially to a shrink apparatus, continuously shrinking the blanks for a predetermined period of time, and automatically transferring the shrunken blanks from the shrink apparatus to a remote location. The invention also includes an apparatus for carrying out the process having a shrink apparatus with a blank input conduit, a blank output conduit, a plurality of heating chambers, and means for transferring knitted tubular blanks from knitting machines to heating chambers. A heat source transfers heat to the heating chambers to heat and shrink the blanks, and an associated component automatically transfers the shrunken blanks to a remote location.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically inverting a garment piece for a sweat suit or the like. The apparatus includes an elongated tube for receiving the garment piece over the front end of the tube. A gripper arm is located adjacent to the rear end of the tube and axially aligned with the tube. The gripper arm includes an elongated arm attached to a frame at one end; gripping means attached to the other end of the elongated arm; and means for moving the arm and the gripping means from a first position away from the garment piece to a second position adjacent to the garment piece. A spreader engages the garment piece adjacent to the front end of the tube to position the garment piece for the gripper means. The gripper means and arm are operable to grasp and withdraw the garment piece through the front end of the tube to the rear end of the tube to automatically invert the garment piece.

Abstract: A system for automatically producing pantyhose garments from elongated tubular fabric blanks, each having a toe end portion and a welt or band end portion. Randomly oriented blanks are sequentially removed from a supply reservoir, oriented in a predetermined manner, and conveyed to a positioning and transferring assembly which orients, removes creases and pleats and properly positions a pair of blanks on the clamping assemblies of a pantyhose seaming machine. The pair of clamped blanks have the welt end portions severed, and severed edges seamed by sewing instrumentalities to define the panty portion of a pantyhose garment. The pantyhose are transferred to a machine where the toe ends are closed by seaming.

Abstract: A system for handling flexible articles such as tubular hosiery blanks each having a toe portion and a welt or band portion and for subsequently closing the toe portions includes an assembly for retrieving randomly oriented blanks from a supply reservoir, a pneumatic feed assembly for displacing the blanks to a magazine, a mechanism for selectively displacing the blanks from the magazine such that the toe portion is always first, an assembly for opening the band portion and positioning the band portion on fingers which expand and convey the blank to a transport tube of a toe closing assembly. The blank is inverted on the transport tube and the toe portion subsequently sewn.

Abstract: A hanger having a hook and a linear beam with a flat web and a pair of spring clips on either end of the beam adapted for limited travel thereon, a first jaw of each clip is mounted for sliding movement on the beam and garment engaging ribs are provided on the inner face of the second jaw of the clip coacting with elongated ribs on the beam of the hanger for holding a garment therebetween, the clips are one-piece-molded plastics construction with a spring device urging the clips to close and the hanger is of one-piece-molded plastics construction.

Abstract: A device for the automatic transfer of pantyhose and similar manufactured articles from a toe sewing machine, of a carrousel type with vertical axis, to a drawing machine of the type having a pair of vertical fixed shapes, includes a gripper for gripping the elastic edge of the articles in a loading station of a sewing machine, in order to transfer an elastic edge out of the sewing machine, overturning the edge, and for keeping the pantyhose in pendent and overturned attitude. The device includes a pusher for picking up the elastic edge of the pantyhose from the gripper while stretching it in the form of a rectangle and transferring the article in a pendant attitude to a predetermined position relative to the shapes of the drawing machine.A transfer device for transferring the article onto the drawing machine effects the fitting of the legs of the pantyhose articles on the relevant shapes.

Abstract: An apparatus for the insepction of tubular fabric articles like pantyhose has a form constituted of bars which can spread the article over an illuminated table. The table is provided with a row of bores which are trained upwardly against the garment to rapidly raise it onto and over the form. Upon termination of the insepction, the garment falls, at least in part by gravity, from the form.

Abstract: Hose transport apparatus for instance incorporated in a line closer consists of a plurality of carriers movable around an endless path and stationary rails extending alongside the path to support hose partly by the carriers and partly by the rails. The parts of hose supported by the rails are pushed along them by a push rod which moves closely beside the rails, the rod being affixed to the associated carrier to move at the speed of the latter and thereby ensure that the moving hose draped over the rails do not slip therefrom due to frictional drag.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for inverting a child's training pant or the like. The apparatus generally comprises a pair of mutually facing, diverging conveyor belt assemblies and a pair of suction systems respectively associated with the conveyor belt assemblies. As the conveyor belt assemblies move the training pant therealong, the suction systems act on opposite surfaces of the training pant to draw them apart, thereby opening the training pant. At the end of the conveyor belt assemblies is an inverting assembly for inverting the opened pant.

Abstract: Apparatus for preventing wrinkles on the edge of fabric to be sewn to the gusset of a knitted garment of the "pantyhose" type which must be automatically transferred onto a machine for sewing gussets, which includes:(a) a head comprising a tubular support (40), on which rests freely a collar (50) containing circularly arranged several hooked rods (60), positioned angularly equidistant and capable of opening out radially for holding a garment (37) by the stretched edge of its fabric to be sewn to a gusset while the garment is being drawn inside a support (40);(b) padded pincers (10--10) or a pneumatic suction device (11) for initially stretching lengthwise panty portion (35) of garment (37) and then, while keeping it stretched, for bringing it gradually closer to inlet (42) of support (40), while it is being drawn inside support (40);(c) two vertical pneumatic suction devices (20) for stretching the legs (36) of the garment before they are separately drawn inside said support (40); and(d) a cup-shaped rubber b

Abstract: Apparatus for sewing the toes of pantyhose, including a transfer device to seize and transfer a garment from a first carrousel to a second carrousel, and in which a loading station of the first carrousel coincides with an ejector station of a pantyhose-forming machine with transfer of the pantyhose being carried out by a similar transfer device, and each of the carrousels have a plurality of arms, one of each of which is aligned with each other when transfer therebetween takes place. Each arm of the second carrousel includes two horizontal tubes having their free ends fitted with a transverse bar, and the tubes are rotatable around the longitudinal axis through contact of a lever attached to the tubes with a profile of a fixed cam concentric with the second carrousel.

Abstract: Transfer of garments, having limp portions, from one machine (L) to another machine (T) the needs of which demand that the limp portions are separate for delivery to separate receiving members therefor, is accomplished while the garments are moving in the direction of the receiving machine (T). The limp portions of the moving garment are draped over a guide rail (28); a second guide rail (30) is encountered by the limp portions, this rail being positioned to interpose itself between the advancing limp portions, with the result that one limp portion becomes draped over each rail.

Abstract: This invention concerns a belt conveyor for delivering pantyhose whose panty part only has just been seamed by a panty part sewing machine to a toe part sewing machine in order for the leg part to be received smoothly. When the half made pantyhose are on their way to the toe part sewing machine with the panty part held by clipping members and the leg parts dangling from a guide pipe of the panty part sewing machine, the belt conveyor, disposed between both the paths of clipping members of the panty part sewing machine and suction members of the toe part sewing machine, correctly receives the leg parts one by one in association with a guide member disposed in contact with the belt conveyor at a little time interval. One of the leg parts, received by the belt conveyor first, is delivered, by their suction, to the suction members then coming nearby; the other is delivered in the same way a little later.

Abstract: A carriage is reciprocately movable along the length of a pair of eversion tubes which carry pantyhose legs in an everted condition. The carriage carries two pairs of grippers which are engageable over each pantyhose leg and on side fingers on each tube. The grippers are brought to a partially closed position where they do not touch the fabric while the carriage is slowly moved along the tubes to scan the exterior of the fabric. A detection point is provided on the fabric which is detectable by a probe that operates a mechanism for fully closing the grippers. Further movement of the carriage with the grippers closed causes sliding of the fabric on the tubes. Even with the detection points misaligned on the tubes, the grippers will close at the appropriate instant to concurrently bring both legs of the pantyhose to the ends of the tubes.

Abstract: An apparatus for turning tubular garment portions such as shirt sleeves, comprising a suction box and a pair of elbow shaped turn tubes, the shorter portions of which are connected with the suction box in a rotatable manner such that these portions are rotatable about their respective parallel axes as mutually spaced corresponding to the distance between the armholes of a shirt of a relatively small size, the longer, outer portions of the elbow shaped turn tubes thereby being mutually pivotable between substantially parallel positions and positions, in which they diverge from each other towards their free ends. Thus, the apparatus can be adjusted to handle shirts etc. of any size simply by adjusting the degree of the said divergence, to make the distance between the free intake ends of the tubes correspond to the distance between the opposed armholes of the shirt to be handled.

Abstract: Improvements to a waistband end folding and stitching apparatus of the type in which the open terminal free end portion of an unfinished waistband having opposed fabric plies is presented to a folding station where the end portion is (1) inverted into the space between the spread plies to form an inturned edge; (2) the multiple plies of fabric are flattened by the application of pressure from a pair of opposed feet to facilitate sewing; (3) automatically transferred laterally in a horizontal plane to a seaming or stitching station, and (4) positively positioned in alignment with the sewing head for the application of at least one row of stitches parallel to and adjacent the inturned edge. The moving parts of the apparatus are hydraulically and pneumatically operated responsive to the predetermined program.

Abstract: An apparatus for turning a circular knit hose inside out, sectioning the knit hose into unit hoses, and linking each toe portion thereof with stitches, characterized in that the apparatus comprising an air suction pipe for pulling a long knit hose by air suction therethrough, a cutter unit mounted on a movable carrier, the cutter unit having means whereby the knit hose is stretched so as to ensure an easy cutting, an apron conveyor having slats transversely provided, each of the slats including a hollow cylinder for allowing a circular knit hose to be supported thereon, and a clamp unit located at the opposite side to the cylinder, the clamp unit being capable of tilting toward the cylinder, a linking device located at a position where the clamp unit is tilted, means for releasing the knit hose from the clamp unit, and a suction duct for pulling the unit knit hose by suction, the suction duct being communicatable with the rear end of the cylinder which comes to the turning point of the conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for rapid loading of pantyhoses onto a stocking finishing medium having a pneumatic reversing mechanism including two tubes for receiving the legs of the pantyhoses. The apparatus includes a carrousel structure including at least two intermittently rotating radially arranged arms, each of the arms including a support for a panty portion of the pantyhoses, prongs to engage an elastic edge portion of the panty portion for opening thereof and stretching it into a generally rectangular configuration, removing the panty portion from the support and superimposing the panty portion on the tubes, then reversing the panty portion thereon while the pneumatic reversing mechanism draws the legs into the tubes. A track extends radially from the center of the carrousel towards the outer periphery thereof, and a carriage moves the prongs with the pantyhose thereon from the support to the tubes.

Abstract: Hosiery manufacturing equipment comprises a line closer (L) and a toe closer (T) which are linked by a hose transfer mechanism (M) consisting of two conveyors (30, 31) which overlap in a region between the closers (L, T). The conveyors have respective hose holders (39, 40) which coact in the overlap region so that hose carried by the first holder (39) are stripped therefrom and taken over by the second holder (40) which ultimately mounts the hose on the toe closer (T); the first holder is responsible for stripping the hose from the line closer (L) and for rotating the hose through a predetermined angle which is related to a difference in angular attitude between respective hose supports (10, 16) of the two closers (L, T).

Abstract: In pantyhose hip portion seaming operation, the open ends of a pair of stockings mounted respectively on upper and lower templates of a template unit are detected by means of phototubes to allow the both ends to be automatically positioned so that they are properly aligned.After a pair of stockings are mounted on the upper and lower templates of a template unit, a pair of phototubes arranged in upper and lower positions are moved to the ends of the stockings in such a way that upon one of the stocking ends being detected by one of the phototubes, the one phototube is caused to stop moving, the other phototube is caused to detect the presence of the other stocking.According to the condition of the other stocking as detected by the other phototube, the other stocking is moved forward or backward as required, and upon the end of the other stocking being detected by the other phototube, the hose is caused to stop moving, whereby the ends of the both stockings are properly aligned.

Abstract: Apparatus for reversing or turning hose inside out comprises a pair of contra-rotating rollers 3 and 4, resiliently urged towards each other to form a nip therebetween into which the hose is introduced from its closed or toe cap end by a pick-up and conveyor assembly and a rod or rounded blade member 5 arranged to be displaced through the nip to engage the closed end of the hose and carry it away from the rollers while the latter draw the hose about the rod or blade element to turn the hose inside out.

Abstract: An apparatus for turning a circular knit hose inside out and sectioning same into unit hoses, includes an air suction pipe extending in the direction of feeding the knit hose, a pair of contact rollers carried on a carrier capable of reciprocally moving along the air suction pipe, the contact rollers frictionally retaining the knit hose covering the air suction pipe so as to allow the knit hose to be sucked into the pipe unit by unit with its tail end ahead. The apparatus includes a cutter for sectioning a protruded end portion of the knit hose from the air suction pipe.

Abstract: A hosiery toe closer has a hollow tubular carrier, to which suction is applied for everting hosiery, and an unloading mechanism for dispensing hose in an everted state on a table or tray. The unloading mechanism is a carriage reciprocally-movable forwardly of the carrier and the carriage supports at least one hose holder engageable with a welt of a hose on the carrier, so that as the carriage moves forwardly, it pulls the hose welt along the carrier while simultaneously the hose toe is sucked into the carrier; continued movement of the carriage pulls the hose out of the carrier and discharges it in a straight, everted condition.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and process for finishing hosiery articles such as men's, women's and children's socks. Each sock is placed inside-out on an elongated hollow tubular member, with the toe seam covering a first open end of the tubular member. The tubular member is rotated adjacent shears so that unfinished threads extending from each sock are trimmed and removed. A stretching ram is then inserted in the first open end of the tubular member to sandwich each sock between the ram and the tubular member, and a portion of the ram then extends through the tubular member to stretch the sock and thereby straighten the toe seam. The stretching ram is removed, and pressurized air forces the sock through the hollow tubular member and out a second open end of the tubular member in a rightside-out condition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous method and device for obtaining from a long length of tubular knitted element, a sleeve with a turned back edge.The method consists in guiding the knitting by way of a tubular guide, with one end of said element projecting from the said guide, in turning back said projecting part by means of air jets and lateral gripping tongs, and in pulling forward the whole knitted element and cutting across the said element with a knife.The invention finds a particular application in the production of garment elements or trimmings, such as wrist-bands for gloves, cuffs for sleeves or polar necks.

Abstract: A device for automatic positioning of the tip of a tubular stocking which is to be sewn together with the heel portion onto a pneumatic inverter tube which has an open mouth, the stocking being provided with an indexing mark thereon, the device includes a stocking support which is axially rotatable relative to the inverter tube and is disposed substantially coaxially and an indexer responsive to the indexing mark on the stocking to activate a control to hold the stocking over the tubular support to assure proper orientation of the stocking for sewing.

Abstract: An improved method of everting a knitted sleeve-like portion of wearing apparel or the like, such as a hose precursor before the toe end is stitched, which includes drawing such sleeve over the free end of a cylindrical mounting tube and over and past a turning ring on said tube, which turning ring prevents the following end of the sleeve from sliding back towards the tube's free end when the drawing motion is reversed, pulling the leading end of the sleeve back over the sleeve towards the tube's free end. The simple drawing motion and reversal thereof not only everts the sleeve but positions the leading end free about the tube's free end, in position for stitching when the leading end is the toe end of a sock or other hose. Also provided is an apparatus for use in this method.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a plurality of shaped bodies carried on a rotable structure. On the end of each body one edge can be manually placed of a tubular element of textile material forming the leg of a stocking. During the rotation of said structure, each body having said element hanging therefrom, is positioned in front of and adjacent to the free end of a mounting tube in a semiautomatic sewing machine. At this position an elongated rod is automatically operated, such a rod being provided with a hook member separating the edge of the tubular element from the shaped body, overturning and transferring it onto the end of the pounting tube and causing it to slide along the tube, where it is caught by the gripping members the sewing machine is fitted with, the machine then providing for sewing the other end of the tubular element forming the tip of a stocking.

Abstract: A vacuum chamber has a port communicating with the interior of the chamber, and a blower and ducting for selectively establishing a vacuum within the chamber. A partially completed bag of seamed panel construction is placed with the port extending into the bag. When vacuum is applied, the bag is passed through the port, being thereby turned inside out. A pneumatically-controlled door enables access to the chamber for removal of the bag.

Abstract: In an arrangement for collecting and stacking hosiery articles in general, such as stockings, panty-hose and the like, coming from a circular hosiery knitting machine, an improvement consisting in that the suction plate of the temporary collection space has two arrays of perforations, one with more closely spaced holes and the other with widely spaced, longitudinally arranged holes, so as to create a whirling motion of air and a differential pressure field which aids in distending the articles so as to have them orderly dropping onto a rod-like supporting member positioned beneath said temporary collection space.

Abstract: In a hosiery handling apparatus wherein a string of hosiery is placed on a movable hollow tubular form, and everted through the open end of the form, a reciprocating arm grasps the first in-line hose and breaks it away from the string. The arm then pulls the hose across the top of a horizontal platform to a predetermined, fixed location on the platform. During the pulling operation, frictional resistance (drag) between the hose and platform tends to straighten the hose. An upstanding guide member, formed on the platform, prevents the hose from moving laterally off the platform. After the hose is located on the platform, the platform is tilted downwardly to dump the hose into a neat stack in a tray located beneath the platform. This readies the hose for a subsequent seaming operation.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed for turning inside out a tubular fabric (e.g. stockings), which comprises a fabric-container, a tube for turning the fabric inside out, said tube overhangingly extending from the container, an air-drawing and blowing unit for blowing air into and drawing air from said tube, air-stream deflecting means to cause the blown air-stream to be deflected towards the outside face of the tube and valve means. The mechanical structure is simplified over that of the devices of the prior art and the operation becomes continuous instead of being intermittent. Manual manipulations are virtually suppressed.

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.

Abstract: The slitting and seaming together of hosiery blanks for producing panty hose is carried out by a single operator and during the usual everting, inspecting and toe seaming operation. The hosiery blanks are slit as they are drawn onto a tubular hosiery form and the upper end engages a heated wire slitter supported on one side of the tubular form and a predetermined distance from the open free end of the form. The heated wire slitter is supported between spaced guide plates which aid in directing the panty forming end portion of the hosiery blanks into engagement with the heated wire slitter.