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: 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).