Abstract: Automatically sewing two stockings to form a pantyhose article by putting the stockings on two corresponding flat, paired, juxtaposed shapes, moving the shapes close to each other with the stockings fitted thereon and cutting a longitudinal portion of the stockings, spreading apart the shapes with the cut stockings thereon and sewing the eges of the latter, rejoining the shapes and unloading the sewn pantyhose.

Abstract: An apparatus for the thermal pre-fixing of stockings directly from a circular knitting machine has a cylindrical treatment chamber with an inlet valve and an outlet valve and is connected to a hosiery knitting machine through a conduit an to a suction conduit to transfer the stockings. The chamber has a blade valve for the admission of air during the expulsion of the treated stockings, a by-pass conduit connected to each end of the chamber with the interposition of a valve, an optical sensor upstream of the treatment chamber for detecting the arrival of a stocking and a heat exchanger to heat the treatment air.

Abstract: Apparatus for the automatic positioning of stockings in a pantyhose-sewing machine, with detection of the garter line 17, and including two binate stocking-holding shapes 13, each of which has two horizontal articulated arms 10 extended ends joined by a nylon bow 7, wherein the stems 71, 72 of the bow 7 are slidingly housed within the arms 10, 30 of the clamp 13, a driving and guiding device being provided inside the arm 10 of the clamp 13, with a bored rod 4 on top of which one stem 71 of the bow 7 is fixedly engaged; the foot of the other stem 72 being loosely received in a hole 11 of the other arm of the clamp 13; with a hose 1 fixedly fitted on a second hose 2 internally gauged for guiding the shoe 5 of the rod 4, on top of the hoses a bush 3 being fixed for guiding the end of the rod 4; with a thrust spiral spring 5 fitted on the rod 4 inside the hose 2 and suitably pressed between the bush 3 and the shoe 5 of the rod 4; and with a device for driving the retraction or withdrawal of the stretching bow 7 o

Abstract: To obtained the automatic toe-sewing of two stockings, especially of pantyhose articles, a machine is used having horizontal carrousel structure to support pairs of stockings (3) upon two parallel everter hoses (1) provided with sliding fingers (10) for the withdrawal of the toe to be sewn. Structure (40, 41, 5) for blocking and temporarily turning right-side out and aligning the edge of the toes to be sewn is provided. Structure (7) for blocking the toes of the stockings (3) with the edge thus turned right-side out and aligned on a sewing surface (6) and slidingly transferring them to a sewing machine (8) is provided. Further, Structure (9) for withdrawing a portion of the stocking (3) from the everter hoses (1) so as to favor the above mentioned transfer is provided.

Abstract: A method and device are provided to change the curvature of the seam of the tip of stockings wherein a sewing machine is utilized in correspondence with a rotating, circular, horizontal plane for supporting the flattened tip of the stocking to be sewn with a suspended coaxial plate with alternating vertical motion and jointly rotating for holding the tip of the stocking steady during the sewing. A device is disclosed for gripping in several points, separately, the free end of the flattened tip of the stocking to be sewn which projects beyond the rotating sewing plane (4). A pneumatic arrangement is provided for activating and deactivating, respectively, the gripping device.

Abstract: A device to automatically transfer pantyhose articles from a sewing machine to a conveyor for packed pantyhose articles includes a carriage 2 reciprocable on a horizontal track 10 extending from an unloading station of a sewing machine (LC) to a loading station of a conveyor (BG) for packed pantyhose articles. Grippers having flat horizontal tips, one being fixed, the other being vertically movable, hold an elastic band 40 of a pantyhose article when the bodice is fitted over the sewing forms 9 of the sewing machine. A stylus is associated with and extends parallel to the tips of the gripper 3 and is movable in a direction perpendicular thereto to rotate the bodice of the pantyhose. The gripper engages the pantyhose while it moves through approximately 90.degree. about its own horizontal axis in order to make the seams of the pantyhose coincide over the same vertical median plane. A rotator 6-9 acts to rotate the gripper 3 and the stylus 5 through approximately 90.degree.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring groups of pantyhose from loading stations to an unloading station with intermediate accumulating stations inbetween. An endless conveyor belt advances the pantyhose groups from either of the unloading stations to the next empty intermediate accumulating station, from one intermediate accumulating station to the next, and from an adjacent intermediate accumulating station to the unloading station. The belt operates in either direction depending on location of the station from which the pantyhose groups are to be advanced with respect to the unloading station. The conveyor belt is formed of a plurality of spaced elements and the platform is formed of spaced strips provided for extension through the spaces in the belt to support and retain pantyhose groups at a station while the belt advances pantyhose groups between other stations. The platform is retractable through the belt to place the pantyhose group on the belt for advancing from the station to the next station.

Abstract: In order to individually pick up and temporarily hold hosiery permeable articles, especially tubular articles like panty-hoses and stockings, and instantaneously stretch apart their elastic edges their automatic transfer, a holding device with adhesive and an air jet is utilized. The device includes a tape motorized to advance with intermittence between two elements provided for driving and tensioning the tape, and with a block for the support of the holding zone of the tape and an underlying support for more articles in overlapping relationship to form a stack.Nozzles for supplying jets for compressed air are located adjacent and perpendicularly oriented to the holding zone of the article, and in such a way as to act in a direction opposite to that of the retention force of the adhesive tape, thereby to pass through the article stretching out the elastic edge of the article as soon as this has moved away from the relevant support.

Abstract: Device for individually holding textile articles, comprising a structure supporting a plurality of holding elements 6 shaped like coils or plates disposed side-by-side and axially movable, and piston operated levers for moving the holding elements away from and close to each other as they come in contact with the fabric of the article to be picked up.The holding elements may advantageously consist of coils of a tensile spring shaped as a cylindrical helix which is suitably extended, before coming in contact with the fabric, by the piston operated levers, and then is released for resilient contraction movement upon its contact with the fabric.Advantageously, the device comprises controls of the correct holding of the article, thereby allowing the automation of the device for the use thereof in the handling of textile materials.

Abstract: Apparatus for preventing wrinkles on the edge of fabric to be sewn to the gusset of a knitted garment of the "pantyhose" type which must be automatically transferred onto a machine for sewing gussets, which includes:(a) a head comprising a tubular support (40), on which rests freely a collar (50) containing circularly arranged several hooked rods (60), positioned angularly equidistant and capable of opening out radially for holding a garment (37) by the stretched edge of its fabric to be sewn to a gusset while the garment is being drawn inside a support (40);(b) padded pincers (10--10) or a pneumatic suction device (11) for initially stretching lengthwise panty portion (35) of garment (37) and then, while keeping it stretched, for bringing it gradually closer to inlet (42) of support (40), while it is being drawn inside support (40);(c) two vertical pneumatic suction devices (20) for stretching the legs (36) of the garment before they are separately drawn inside said support (40); and(d) a cup-shaped rubber b

Abstract: Apparatus for sewing the toes of pantyhose, including a transfer device to seize and transfer a garment from a first carrousel to a second carrousel, and in which a loading station of the first carrousel coincides with an ejector station of a pantyhose-forming machine with transfer of the pantyhose being carried out by a similar transfer device, and each of the carrousels have a plurality of arms, one of each of which is aligned with each other when transfer therebetween takes place. Each arm of the second carrousel includes two horizontal tubes having their free ends fitted with a transverse bar, and the tubes are rotatable around the longitudinal axis through contact of a lever attached to the tubes with a profile of a fixed cam concentric with the second carrousel.

Abstract: A carriage is reciprocately movable along the length of a pair of eversion tubes which carry pantyhose legs in an everted condition. The carriage carries two pairs of grippers which are engageable over each pantyhose leg and on side fingers on each tube. The grippers are brought to a partially closed position where they do not touch the fabric while the carriage is slowly moved along the tubes to scan the exterior of the fabric. A detection point is provided on the fabric which is detectable by a probe that operates a mechanism for fully closing the grippers. Further movement of the carriage with the grippers closed causes sliding of the fabric on the tubes. Even with the detection points misaligned on the tubes, the grippers will close at the appropriate instant to concurrently bring both legs of the pantyhose to the ends of the tubes.

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: Apparatus for rapid loading of pantyhoses onto a stocking finishing medium having a pneumatic reversing mechanism including two tubes for receiving the legs of the pantyhoses. The apparatus includes a carrousel structure including at least two intermittently rotating radially arranged arms, each of the arms including a support for a panty portion of the pantyhoses, prongs to engage an elastic edge portion of the panty portion for opening thereof and stretching it into a generally rectangular configuration, removing the panty portion from the support and superimposing the panty portion on the tubes, then reversing the panty portion thereon while the pneumatic reversing mechanism draws the legs into the tubes. A track extends radially from the center of the carrousel towards the outer periphery thereof, and a carriage moves the prongs with the pantyhose thereon from the support to the tubes.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a gusset to tubular articles such as panty hose which includes a carrousel structure carrying hollow support members across which the panty hose is stretched, operating stations for inverting the panty hose and drawing the legs inwardly of the hollow support member, apparatus applying the gusset to the panty hose, excess fabric remover, a sewing device for sewing the gusset to the panty hose, and a panty hose reversing mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically transferring pantyhose from a machine producing pantyhose with seams to a gusset-sewing machine, which includes a pronged catching device for a rapid and correct elastic catching or grabbing of the garment with its prongs which are first introduced into a central opening of the garment, which is left seamless at the central opening immediately after the garment leaves the pantyhose producing machine, provision being made to effect a preliminary transverse opening out the garment opening during the horizontal transfer of the garment toward the catching device and the simultaneous separate drawing of the legs of the garment into appropriate tubes so that at the end of the transfer of the garment, the edge of the garment opening is automatically arranged all around the prongs of the pronged catching device.

Abstract: A method for applying a gusset to tubular articles such as women's pantyhose, which includes arranging the pantyhose across a hollow support with the edge of a seamless fabric stretched along a horizontal contour of a closed loop; reversing the body of the pantyhose, arranging a gusset over the pantyhose shaped to conform to the closed loop shape of the support, and sewing the superposed edges of the gusset and the stretched zone of the pantyhose together.

Abstract: Control device for use with a carrousel-type machine for applying a gusset to a pantyhose article. The control device senses the presence of the pantyhose article on a support and then transfers the gusset to the pantyhose article when it is on the support. A photocell reader is also provided to control the sewing of the gusset to the pantyhose article and assure that sewing takes place over an angle greater than 360.degree..

Abstract: A device for trimming an edge of a tubular article to form a portion of a pantyhose prior to the sewing of a gusset. A support is rotatable about its vertically disposed central axis and cooperates with a mask supported independently of the support and normally stationary. The mask has slots with which trimmers in the form of electrical heating elements cooperate, each of the trimmers being movable independently of the other relative to the mask. The support is rotated relative to the mask and one of the trimmers penetrates and cuts the cloth by heat action and enters one of the slots in the mask so that during continued rotation of the support an edge of the article is trimmed from the remainder by the aforesaid trimmers to remain engaged about the support as an annular band.

Abstract: A device is provided for feeding a continuous fabric web to a machine for sewing women's pantyhose. The continuous fabric web is formed into a gusset for the pantyhose by various devices including a motor controlled by a photoelectric device for feeding the fabric web from a spool of fabric web. A carriage alternately moves in a horizontal direction and has several web pulling jaws to pull the web into place. A tampon pincer projects from the plane of operation to hold the fabric web tight. Thereafter, a pair of co-acting blades cuts and trims the web and the pantyhose material. The pantyhose material and formed gusset are held taut until they can be sewn together.