Abstract: An apparatus for automatic loading socks on forms (1) comprises a suction unit (20) at the entry, a carousel (10) with several stations, a sock positioning unit (30), a sock tucking up unit (40) and a withdrawing and loading robot (50). The carousel has heads (11) carrying elongated supports (12) on which socks (2) are put partially or completely. The heads (11) rotate integrally to the carousel (10) carrying the elongated supports (12) through four following stations and respectively a station at the entry (2) for opening the socks and putting them onto the elongated supports (12), a positioning station (3), a tucking up station (4) and a withdrawing station (5).

Abstract: A method and a device for stretching hosiery articles such as socks, knee socks and the like comprises a steaming form having a straight portion opposite a foot shape. The steaming form has a friction surface for engaging the band portion of a sock and means for varying the friction surface so as to engage the sock for steaming and release the sock after steaming. The friction surface generally comprises a plate having a plurality of holes, a plurality of retractable tangs that communicate with the holes, and means for reciprocating the retractable tangs with respect to the holes. In this manner the tangs are operatively arranged to hook the band portion of a sock when they protrude from the holes and leave the sock free to slide on the plate when they are retracted. The reciprocation between plate and sheet causes the movement of the tangs to protrude or to retract with respect to the holes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically picking up hosiery articles (20) from a container (7), e.g., socks, knee socks, and the like in which an actuator (4) comprised of a support (5), to which a grasping device (6) is suspended, picks up the hosiery articles (20) at a loading position and moves them to an unloading position. The grasping device (6) is lowered into the container until the grasping device (6) contacts the free surface of the bulk of hosiery articles (20). The actuator (4) continues to be lowered according to a brief additional stroke and the grasping device (6) delays the closure even after a first contact with the free surface of hosiery articles (20). The grasping device (6) is then detected and closed onto hosiery articles (20) grasping at least one of them. The grasping device (6) them moves to the unloading position by means of the actuator (4) where the grasping device (6) opens and releases the hosiery article (20).

Abstract: A method for longitudinal orientation of tubular knitted elements such as socks (2), knee socks or the like, wherein a stretching step of the sock (2) is provided in a duct (3) of orientation with its two ends aligned longitudinally. Then, the position of an end that is either a tip portion (2′) or a band portion is detected by means of sensors (13). At the detecting step the sock (2) is conveyed in the duct (3) in a direction according to which the position is known of the band portion with respect to the tip portion (2′), whereby before the introduction of the sock (2) in a loading duct (3) a step is provided of inversion of the sock (2) if the band portion is not oriented in the chosen direction, or a step of rejection. The sock (2) is selectively conveyed in the duct (3) by an air flow in either direction. Also the preliminary stretching step of the sock (2) is carried out by an air flow after preliminary grasping first end thereof, whereby the second end engages the sensors.

Abstract: The equipment comprises a carousel (2) provided with a plurality of forms (3) designed to receive the products and stations, outside the carousel, for the loading and inspection (9) of the product, for setting (11) in a chamber and for discharge (13). On the carousel there are provided a plurality of units, each having guide means (29) for the radial sliding of a sliding support (31) on which the corresponding form (3) lies in a radial plane. Each of the stations (9, 11, 13) comprises a servo mechanism capable of moving said support to the outside of the carousel or in the opposite direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatic loading socks on forms (1) comprises a suction unit (20) at the entry, a carousel (10) with several stations, a sock positioning unit (30), a sock tucking up unit (40) and a withdrawing and loading robot (50). The carousel has heads (11) carrying elongated supports (12) on which socks (2) are put partially or completely. The heads (11) rotate integrally to the carousel (10) carrying the elongated supports (12) through four following stations and respectively a station at the entry (2) for opening the socks and putting them onto the elongated supports (12), a positioning station (3), a tucking up station (4) and a withdrawing station (5).

Abstract: A method and a device for stretching hosiery articles such as socks, knee socks and the like comprises a steaming form having a straight portion opposite a foot shape. The steaming form has a friction surface for engaging the band portion of a sock and means for varying the friction surface so as to engage the sock for steaming and release the sock after steaming. The friction surface generally comprises a plate having a plurality of holes, a plurality of retractable tangs that communicate with the holes, and means for reciprocating the retractable tangs with respect to the holes. In this manner the tangs are operatively arranged to hook the band portion of a sock when they protrude from the holes and leave the sock free to slide on the plate when they are retracted. The reciprocation between plate and sheet causes the movement of the tangs to protrude or to retract with respect to the holes.

Abstract: A method for longitudinal orientation of tubular knitted elements such as socks (2), knee socks or the like, wherein a stretching step of the sock (2) is provided in a duct (3) of orientation with its two ends aligned longitudinally. Then the position of an end that is either a tip portion (2′) or a band portion is detected by means of sensors (13). At the detecting step the sock (2) is conveyed in the duct (3) in a direction according to which the position is known of the band portion with respect to the tip portion (2′), whereby before the introduction of the sock (2) in a loading duct (3) a step is provided of inversion of the sock (2) if the band portion is not oriented in the chosen direction, or a step of rejection. The sock (2) is selectively conveyed in the duct (3) by an air flow in either one or in the other direction.

Abstract: A method for automatic pick up from a container (7) of hosiery articles, in species socks (2), knee socks and the like of knitted material. An actuator (4) brings a support (5) to which a grasping device (6) is suspended at a predetermined distance. The grasping device (6) can be pushed to approach the support (5) independently from the actuator (4). The actuator (4) and the grasping device (6) are carried integrally above a container (7) of socks (2) and lowered integrally until the grasping device (6) contacts the free surface of the bulk of socks (2). The actuator (4) continues to be lowered according to a brief additional stroke and the grasping device (6) delays the closure even after a first contact with the free surface of socks (2). The approaching of the support (5) to the grasping device (6) is then detected and the latter is closed onto socks (2) grasping at least one of them (20).

Abstract: A knitting machine for producing stocking-knicker products (tights, pantihose) and the like, which has opposite, parallel rectilinear needle beds, a rotatable central unit (22, 16) having its own central vertical shaft (16) and carrying a double rectilinear needle bed central segment (210); two epicyclic units (38, 66) mounted symmetrically on the central unit (22, 16) with shafts (38) offset relative to the central shaft (16), each of the epicyclic units carrying a double rectilinear needle bed (110); along each elongated plate (66), annular guides for carriages (100, 100A) holding textile component parts are adapted to cooperate with the respective double rectilinear needle bed (110) for the knitting of the legs while the central unit (22, 16) is stationary; supplementary guides corresponding to the double needle bed central segment (210) for the purpose of completing the guiding of the carriages (100, 100A) around the two double rectilinear needle beds (110) and the double needle bed central segment (210)

Abstract: A knitting machine is provided for producing tubular articles based on two fixed bars of needles wherein rows are formed partly by the needles of one bar and partly by the needles of the other bar. A thread is provided which is displaced alternately in both directions along the bars. Cam rings are provided rotating in continuous motion and in opposite directions. Each of the cam rings including cams acting on one of the needle bars for providing trajectories of the needles of one of the two bars forming a limited angle, generally than 30.degree., relative to the trajectories of the corresponding needles of the other bar. The needles of the two bars are arranged offset and are controlled by the cams to provide the sliding movement necessary for the formation of the stitches of the tubular fabrics. Sliding movement is provided such that the hooks do not cross over during the formation of stitches such that it is possible to work on both bars simultaneously.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine for hosiery includes an electromagnetic needle selection system. This selection system includes pivotal selector devices which act on resilient pushers and which are pushed indiscriminately or selectively against the resilient action of the pushers by radially acting cams. The system also includes groups of electromagnets which are placed annularly around the cylinder to exert a retaining effect on the selected cams when they are pushed against these by radially acting cams. In addition, electromagnets are placed between adjacent retaining electromagnets and they are of a size not exceeding the gap between the needles and the adjacent jacks. The jacks are excited selectively by means of a program control in order to exert the same retaining action as the retaining electromagnets and to effect abandonment or relinquishing of a selector which is moving.

Abstract: Several pairs of tubular articles are formed on two circular fixed fronts of needles using threads reciprocating transfer mechanism. The articles are alternatively formed by the two fronts by using sets of needles whose number may also vary. By using adjacent sets of needles, the two tubular, leg-shaped articles of each pair are successively formed to make up a body, that is, the panties portion for a pantyhose garment.

Abstract: A circular loom is disclosed for tubular fabric consisting essentially of strips of synthetic, artificial and natural substances, said loom being of the vertical heald type with healds arranged on concentric rings, with the drawing and the winding up of the fabric being formed on a fabric gauging cylinder arranged downstream of the shuttles, characterized in that said loom comprises one single rotary positive cam with a double track for the control of the alternate motion of the healds, said cam consisting essentially of a hollow cylinder turning coaxially inside the fabric-gauging cylinder and on whose outside cylindrical surface there are provided two closed track guide cams having a substantially helicoidal development, of which one is the cam controlling the motion of the external healds, while the other controls the internal healds, those guiding cams being associated with guide-pads or cam followers which are integral with saddles carrying the healds mounted slidably in fixed vertical guides, thereby im

Abstract: The invention relates to a control system for the lifting or raising of needles within their respective grooves or channels about the circumference of a conventional multi-feed circular knitting machine, with the aid of jacks and operational cams for said jacks, wherein the movement of the needles is amplified with respect to the movement of their associated jacks.