Abstract: The device comprises a tubular member (377) on which a tubular knitted article (M) is disposed and an operating head (1432) positioned in front of an end of the tubular member, comprising a plurality of contact members (1467; 1447, 1453). The contact members comprise a pair of wheels (1447; 1453) and a plurality of pads 1467).

Abstract: The device comprises: a tubular member (1); means (3, 5, 11) to insert and stretch a tubular knitted article (M) over the outside of said tubular member and over an end thereof; a control unit. It also comprises a crown (101) of detection elements cooperating with the end of the tubular member, and the control unit is programmed to determine the angular position of the tubular article stretched over the tubular member by reading the signal supplied by the detection elements in a definite reciprocal position of said tubular article, of said tubular member and of said detection elements.

Abstract: The device comprises: a tubular member (1); means (3, 5, 11) to insert and stretch a tubular knitted article (M) over the outside of said tubular member and over an end thereof; a control unit. It also comprises a crown (101) of detection elements cooperating with the end of the tubular member, and the control unit is programmed to determine the angular position of the tubular article stretched over the tubular member by reading the signal supplied by the detection elements in a definite reciprocal position of said tubular article, of said tubular member and of said detection elements.

Abstract: The device comprises a tubular member (377) on which a tubular knitted article (M) is disposed and an operating head (1432) positioned in front of an end of the tubular member, comprising a plurality of contact members (1467; 1447, 1453).

Abstract: The device comprises a loading member (3) onto which the tubular knitted article (M) is loaded, and a pick-up member to engage the open toe of the article. The pick-up member has a plurality of elements (13) to engage the toe of the article, arranged about the axis of the loading member, which can take a circular or polygonal configuration and a substantially rectilinear flattened configuration to pick up the article from the loading member and insert it in a guide or in a guillotine (61) of a sewing machine.

Abstract: The device comprises: a suction duct (7) with a first end and a second end; a retaining member (5) to hold a flexible article (M) inserted at least partly in said suction duct; and a suction opening (21) which places the inside of the suction duct in communication with the outside, arranged in an intermediate position between the retaining member and the second end.

Abstract: The method comprises the steps of: generating a curve (PF) which approximates the profile of one end (P) of an article; processing said curve to determine whether it approximates the profile of said first or said second end.

Abstract: The device comprises: a tubular member (15) with an inlet end and an outlet end (15A), associated with suction means and inside which a tubular article (T) is sucked towards the outlet end; a moving pick-up element (21, 23) to engage a first end (P) of the tubular article (T) and remove it from the tubular member, said pick-up element which can be moved towards the outlet end; a shaped block (43), cooperating with the inner wall of the tubular member (15), to define a constriction with variable conformation at the outlet end of the tubular member. The constriction is suitable to define a narrow and elongated section of passage of the tubular article, in which said tubular article is forced to take a spread arrangement at least at the second end.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for handling tubular knitted articles having a first end and a second end, comprising in combination: a first pick-up member and a second pick-up member (51A, 51B) for the tubular articles, which can be actuated alternatively to engage one end of the tubular articles; detection means to determine the orientation of the first and of the second end of the tubular article and a control unit. The two pick-up members are controlled to alternatively engage the tubular article according to the orientation of the tubular article detected by said detection means.

Abstract: The machine comprises: at least one tubular member (377) to transport the articles (M); a container (301) in which said articles are placed in bulk; pick-up members (305) to pick up individual articles from said container; a feed path of the articles; detection means (329) to identify the orientation of the articles along said path; a stretching device to stretch open an end of an article and load said article onto said tubular member. Also provided are members (341) to discard articles oriented with the first end farther forward than the second end with respect to the direction of feed of the article along said path, and to feed toward said stretching device articles oriented with the second end farther forward than the first end with respect to said direction of feed.

Abstract: The device comprises a loading member (3) onto which the tubular knitted article (M) is loaded, and a pick-up member to engage the open toe of the article. The pick-up member has a plurality of elements (13) to engage the toe of the article, arranged about the axis of the loading member, which can take a circular or polygonal configuration and a substantially rectilinear flattened configuration to pick up the article from the loading member and insert it in a guide or in a guillotine (61) of a sewing machine.

Abstract: A method to orient a tubular knitted article, such as a sock or the like, with respect to a pocket of fabric, for example the heel or toe pocket of said article. The method comprises the phases of: stretching an article on a tubular member (1) so that an intermediate part of the band (F) surrounding an end to be sewn of said article (M) is positioned along a line intersecting in two points the end edge of the tubular member and the remaining part is disposed along the outer side surface of the tubular member; detecting the angular position of said band on the tubular member; identifying the position of a pocket of fabric of the article on the basis of the angular position of said band with respect to the tubular member.

Abstract: A method to orient a tubular knitted article, such as a sock or the like, with respect to a pocket of fabric, for example the heel or toe pocket of said article. The method comprises the phases of: stretching an article on a tubular member (1) so that an intermediate part of the band (F) surrounding an end to be sewn of said article (M) is positioned along a line intersecting in two points the end edge of the tubular member and the remaining part is disposed along the outer side surface of the tubular member; detecting the angular position of said band on the tubular member; identifying the position of a pocket of fabric of the article on the basis of the angular position of said band with respect to the tubular member.

Abstract: The device comprises the following combination: a support (3) with a first tubular member (5A) and a second tubular member (5B) I each of which can be alternatively positioned in a first and a second station; a pneumatic transfer tube (17) which can be interfaced with the knitting machine (2) where the article is made, to transfer the articles to be closed from said machine to said first station; in the first station, positioning members for positioning said article on said first and second tubular member in said first station; in the second station, means for tensioning the toe of the tubular article and closing means for closing the toe; a pneumatic conduit (171 23) for unloading the article after closing the toe.

Abstract: The device comprises: a tubular member (5A; 5B) in which the articles are inserted; a plurality of mobile gripping members (49) mobile between a first closed position and a second open position, arranged on one outlet end of said tubular member; and guiding and orienting means (71, 73) associated to said outlet end of said tubular member, for guiding and orienting the tubular article inserted in said tubular member towards said gripping members.

Abstract: Conveyor apparatus comprises an endless conveyor operative to convey workpieces past a number of processing stations. The workpieces are conveyed in seats of the conveyor, each of the seats being designated to receive a workpiece which is at a predetermined stage in the process. Means are provided to sense the presence of filled and empty seats and to control workpiece removal and depositing means associated with the processing stations so that workpieces are only removed from, and deposited in, the appropriate designated seats.

Abstract: A device for angularly centering a member having an annular toothed formation, for example an electric motor commutator prior to mounting the commutator on a rotor shaft, comprises a centering bracket located in the path of movement of the member. The bracket has, at its upstream end, a ramp, followed by two laterally spaced centering profiles. If a tooth of the member engages the ramp, the bracket is resiliently deflected and the tooth thereafter engages one of the centering profiles. Alternatively, the tooth will directly engage the other of the centering profiles. When the member has been centered by either one of the two profiles, it is held in its centered position within a grooved seat to enable further operations to take place.

Abstract: Conveyor apparatus comprises an endless conveyor operative to convey workpieces past a number of processing stations. The workpieces are conveyed in seats of the conveyor, each of the seats being designated to receive a workpiece which is at a predetermined stage in the process. Means are provided to sense the presence of filled and empty seats and to control workpiece removal and depositing means associated with the processing stations so that workpieces are only removed from, and deposited in, the appropriate designated seats.