Abstract: An apparatus for conveying a textile product from an upstream to a downstream station, especially for delivery into a package, has an endless conveyor belt driven by a drive and a pressure unit, the textile product being conveyed while held in a gripped manner between conveyor belt and pressure unit. To achieve rapid conveyance of the textile product without thereby impairing it, it is proposed that the conveyor belt be configured as a first telescoping belt, the front end of which, facing the downstream station, can move back and forth in the direction of the downstream station while the pressure unit follows this motion synchronously; and that the drive be controlled so that the belt of the telescoping belt is not driven as the front end moves back from the downstream station, and thereby rolls off the textile product.

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: 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: In a process for pulling stockings off a stretcher, the stockings are stretched on two essentially U-shaped frames next to one another. The stockings are pulled off the frames means of pull-off belts placed laterally against the narrow side of the frame. While the stockings are being pulled off the stretcher, folding of the stockings is already being initiated, ensuring correct position of the fold and ruling out later changes in shape. Preferable the folding apparatus has a package liner feeder, so that the stockings are folded around a package liner under tension. This completely rules out later shrinkage of the stockings.

Abstract: A shaping machine which is provided for the shaping of panty hose and other hosiery articles includes two substantially vertically extending elongated blades. A motor driven belt drive extends along each of the longitudinal lateral edges of the blades. Each of these belt drives includes at least one endless belt which has a run that projects beyond the blades in such a manner that the contour of this belt run delimits the contour of the blades at their longitudinal sides. The directions of movement of the belt drives are chosen in such a manner that the outer runs of the respective belts move upwardly in the pulling-on position of the blades and downwardly in the pulling-off positions of the blades. The front one of the blades additionally includes a holding arrangement for insert sheets, the holding arrangement being supplied with the insert sheets by a supply device which is arranged laterally next to the blades on the machine frame.