Abstract: The apparatus has an elongate and vertically running carrier (90) for pressure sensors (50), which precedes a group of levers (71 ). The cross section of this carrier (90) is arcuate, so that it has two flanks (93, 94 ). During the testing of a leg garment (80), this carrier (90) simulates the region of the shin. The apparatus has, furthermore, moldings or stays (88) which are carried by the levers and which simulate the rear face of the calf or of the thigh of a leg. The width of these stays corresponds to the width of the calf or of the thigh of a leg. The apparatus also comprises two longitudinally running groups (50) of pressure sensors, one of which is in each case assigned to outside of one of the flanks (93, 94) of the carrier (90). The leg garment (80) to be tested, in order to test it, is slipped over this apparatus in such a way that it lies on the outer faces both of the carrier (90) and of the stays and exerts pressure on the pressure sensors (51).

Abstract: Apparatus for the opening or stretching apart of one end (10) of a tubular article (1), comprising a body (T) of substantially tubular shape, with an entry section (I) of the end (10) of the articles (1) to be treated and communicating with air suction means, in which downstream of the section (I) a converging-diverging conduit (2) is provided downstream of which, at a predetermined distance, there is a pin member (3) on which the end (10) of the article is to be fitted by virtue of the suction and of the expansion or opening caused by its transit along the region (20) downstream of the conduit (2). The body (T) is made up of two portions separable with respect to a central longitudinal plane (x--x) at least in correspondence of the above mentioned pin member (3) to allow the removal of the article (1) with its end (10) in streteched condition. (FIG. 1).

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning textile tubular articles according to a predetermined reference, comprising a structure (1) with, for each article (5) to be formed, two pairs of cylindrical parallel and superimposed rollers (4) rotatable about respective longitudinal axes, and on which the article in the process of formation is able to be fitted: at least one of the pairs of rollers (4) being associated to one or more detectors (7) intended to detect a longitudinal reference of the article and to determine, upon detection, the temporary compression-operated adhesion of the corresponding fabric portion of the article to the surface of a fixed body (4) located between the vertically superimposed rollers (4) of each pair by means of corresponding buffer pistons (70) associated thereto.

Abstract: A conveyor for sewing machines for closing the tip of hoses or the like, having high-versatility use. The conveyor comprises a pair of substantially coplanar flat strips which are laterally adjacent to each other and have, on their mutually facing sides, a pair of protruding ridges which laterally delimit a passage for a portion of the hose, proximate to the tip, which is knitted with a reduced thickness with respect to the contiguous regions. Each ridge has, along the advancement direction of the hose along the passage, an initial portion and a final portion which are substantially parallel, are mutually spaced and are joined by an inclined intermediate portion. An element for advancing the hose along the passage are provided above the flat strips at the passage. Above each one of the ridges, starting from a region of their initial portion, there is a lamina which can move towards or away from the corresponding ridge and forms a resting surface for the upper border of the thinner portion of the hose.

Abstract: An apparatus for boarding socks includes a skeletal frame formed from a plurality of subframes define a path of movement for one or more socks being boarded by the apparatus, an assembly for boarding one or more socks including an assembly for moving a sock board into one or more socks, an assembly for positioning one or more socks for engagement by the sock form, and an assembly for delivering one or more socks to the positioning assembly.

Abstract: There are provided a device and a method for shaping and inspecting pantyhose for defects comprising flat stretchers for stretching the pantyhose, the stretchers being arranged in pairs one beside the other and so that they can be brought into a mutually aligned position and the pantyhose being preferably exposed to the action of steam in a steam-shaping station. In order to permit visual inspection of both the front and the back faces of the pantyhose, neighboring stretchers are rotatable by approximately 180.degree. about a common axis so that the fully spread pantyhose can be inspected easily and by direct eye contact. Subsequent heat-treatment is effected on the same stretchers, preferably by means of steam. The device is preferably designed as circular indexing machine, where the stretchers are arranged in pairs along the circumference of a rotary plate by means of which the stretchers are indexed through the different treating stations.

Abstract: Improved stocking-holder shape comprising two contouring flat elements that can be stretched apart under control, wherein each of said flat elements is provided, in correspondence of the respective outer side, with a flexible and elastic body which has one end fixed, at the level of the front portion of the flat element, while the other end is free, so as to allow for the elastic yielding thereof and the movement of said free end close to the side of the flat part, during the stretching apart of the flat elements, owing to the action exerted by the fabric of the stocking. (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A method of folding women's tights on a hose shaping machine, whereby the tights are fitted onto respective pairs of tubular forms fitted to a carousel conveyor and set to a parted position in which the forms substantially lie in the same vertical plane; at least one of the forms is rotated to bring the forms together into a facing position in parallel planes; in time with the rotation of the forms into the facing position, a first tensioning member operates on the front of the body of the tights, in an intermediate plane between the forms, to slide the body in relation to the forms and form a center fold in the body; and a second tensioning member operates on the rear of the body, in the intermediate plane between the forms, to form an opposite center fold in the body.

Abstract: A method for mounting pantyhose blanks which enables a pair of pantyhose blanks to be efficiently and accurately mounted on a stretch holder member of a crotch sewing machine employed in pantyhose sewing. Panty portions of a pair of pantyhose blanks are inserted on a pair of upper and lower insertion plates at a first position. At a second position, the panty portions are shifted widthwise on the respective insertion plates so that a cutting site at which the panty portions are to be cut is positioned in alignment with a center line extending across the insertion plate pair. At a third position, the panty portions are drawn so that run guard portions are set in position on the respective insertion plates; the panty portions are stretched in opposite lateral directions by a pair of pawls which act as a transfer member and are held as such before they are withdrawn from the insertion plate pair, the panty portions being then mounted on the stretch holder member of the crotch sewing machine.

Abstract: A feeder for guiding stockings in a looping machine includes a mechanism for rapid adjustment of the opening width between two mutually facing guide bars provided with two horizontal mutually parallel rods loaded by respective springs pressing the rods against an actuating element mounted rotatably about a horizontal axis running perpendicular to the rods and provided with an angularly displaceable grip for displacing the rods and one of the guide bars connected fixedly therewith toward and away from the other guide bar.

Abstract: An apparatus for stretching tubular material with at least one closed end on a stretcher, in particular for stretching stockings, pantyhose, and the like on an elongated stretcher, is described, in which the tubular material is pulled onto the stretcher by means of belt drives. Each stretcher has at its lower end an end member at which there is provided a sensing device by means of which the belt drives are shut off as soon as the closed end of the tubular material arrives in the region of the end member. With the sensing device, the belt drives are reliably shut off regardless of the length of the tubular material being pulled on, which not only prevents slippage of the drive rollers of the belt drives, but also ensures complete pulling onto the stretcher.

Abstract: Arranged for positioning within a waist portion of a garment, the apparatus includes first and second plate members arranged for retraction and projection relative to one another, having a cam plate intermediate the first and second plates to effect the expansion and contraction of the plates.

Abstract: A process and a device for smoothing tubular, extensible material with at least one closed end, especially for shaping stockings or tights, is described, with at least one apparatus to feed in and stretch the material on an elongated stretcher being provided, also with at least one apparatus to heat the material on the stretcher, such that the apparatus for feeding in and stretching the material has a gathering fixture to pre-gather the material and a stretching apparatus that has gripper elements to transfer the gathered-up material from the gathering fixture, that can be moved along the elongated stretcher in order to slip the gathered material onto the stretcher. This arrangement guarantees particularly gentle handling of the material, and uniform stretching on the stretcher.

Abstract: A device for spreading elastic stockings so that the user can more readily insert a foot and leg into the stocking. The device includes two looped ends to be inserted into the stocking. The loops are hinged together so that they can be moved from a closed position for insertion of the device into the stocking to a spread position in which the foot or leg is inserted into the stocking along side the loops. The hinge includes a slide which allows free movement in the closed position, but slides into a releasable locked engagement in the spread position.

Abstract: The machine for flaw-checking and drying stockings and the like comprises a rotatable platform which has elements for supporting stockings, comprising a plurality of vertically arranged fork-like elements each having an elastically contractable base. The platform is actuated intermittently at a station for inserting stockings on the fork-like elements and for checking for the presence of flaws. The fork-like elements are moved into a drying station inside a chamber provided with heating elements, and finally, through a station for removing stockings from the fork-like elements.

Abstract: A printing or drawing mold for stocking includes a main mold having a pair of outer jacket plates, a pair of extendible side plates pivotedly formed on the main mold, a width adjuster formed on the upper portion of the mold operatively expanding the extendible side plates for the expansion of the stocking held on the mold and several printing beds formed on the main mold. When a stocking is placed over the main mold, decorative figures can be printed by the printing beds on the stocking or drawn directly thereon.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing wrinkles from a pantyhose portion surrounding a crotch area to which a gusset is applied, the pantyhose having a pair of leg portions and a panty portion, which comprises an edge stretcher for stretching the edge portion of the pantyhose surrounding the crotch area, a guide for receiving the pantyhose from a feeding mechanism and transferring the pantyhose to the edge stretcher which includes a receiver for receiving the pantyhose, a holder for holding the leg portions in a fixed position, then moving the receiver to move the panty portion towards a hollow head associated with a gusset sewing machine for moving the panty portion into the hollow head, and suction devices which cooperate with the holder for maintaining the pantyhose portion surrounding the crotch area stretched on the hollow head, the legs being held stretched by pincers, and then the legs are sucked by suction from the receiver into the hollow head.

Abstract: A sock stretcher comprising a plurality of hollow and generally cylindrical sleeves telescopically arranged within each other, the sleeves having progressively smaller outside diameters such that a second and next largest sleeve would have an outer diameter somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of a first and largest sleeve, the second sleeve having a radially outwardly directed lip at its upper end adapted to engage with a radially inwardly directed lip at the lower end of the first sleeve in which the second sleeve is received when the sleeves are moved towards an extended telescopic condition. A transverse support bar extends across the first sleeve adjacent the upper end thereof, and a second transverse supporting bar extends across the upper end of the smallest sleeve.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically superimposing and folding collants or stockings and transferring the same to packaging. The apparatus comprises a moving chain carrying grippers having the collants leg tips hanging thereon. The chain travels through a narrow loop, at which moving parts are provided and press the two legs of each collant against each other, whereupon a moving member picks up the stockings midway the length thereof, transferring the same as folded up to a collection station.

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: A hosiery article stretching and marking device and a leg form are provided to accurately measure and compare the relative compressive forces of longitudinally spaced portions of stretchable hosiery articles. The form includes integral leg and foot portions with the leg portion being circular in cross-section throughout its length and with successive segments increasing in circular diameter from the foot portion and throughout the length of the leg portion. Flat flexible and radii conformable sensor devices are supported in spaced longitudinal positions along the leg form and pressure indicating gauges are operatively connected to the sensor devices and provide a visual indication of the relative compressive forces applied by the hosiery article on the areas of the leg form where the sensor devices are located.

Abstract: A panty hose testing apparatus in which a manikin conforming substantially to the lower portion of a human torso is provided with waist, leg, and hip portions for receiving thereon panty hose garments and the like. The garment is retained upon the manikin, during testing, by opposed clamp assemblies which engage the garment and manikin adjacent the waist portion, and a crotch member is displaceable longitudinally of the leg portions and applies a force to the crotch area of the garment sufficient to initiate seam damage or a tear in the garment fabric. A gauge measures the force necessary to initiate damage to the garment.

Abstract: A dryer and shaper support for clothing which is particularly adapted for drying and shaping amputee stump socks; the unit includes a frame having means for hanging the frame, a downwardly extending rounded, perforate lower portion, and horizontally disposed opposed clamps acting against the top of the frame; in a preferred embodiment the frame adjusts vertically and laterally to accommodate different size garments and the lateral adjustment is held by friction of the clamps.