Patent Grant
7900483
The present invention concerns the technical sector relative to the production of machinery for knitwear and in particular the production of machines for producing stockings and socks. More particularly, the present invention concerns equipment for manufacturing circular knitwear for the production of tubular knit fabrics of any diameter and quality of fabric.
Until today, machinery for circular knitwear is characterized by a continuous production through a program that establishes length and typology. A plurality of needles produces a number of shape stitches in such a way that, in a second step, the walls of the stocking are separated to enable closing of the walls of the stocking, which, until today, is carried out manually and mechanically.
More recently, autonomous mechanical accessories, to be applied by means of an interface to the circular machine, which is synergistically integrated and is inserted into the process, close the stitch. Such final step occurs, therefore on the textile members of the knitting machine, which remains engaged for a certain amount of time at the end of the knitting cycle of each product.
Such devices, therefore, though having evident automation advantages, have the disadvantage of breaking off the tubular production, by directly coupling to the rim of needles and by extending their normal manufacturing process to the closing of the toe. It is therefore evident how the production rate of the product is reduced with regard to a continuous tubular production cycle. Moreover, such devices are external to the machinery, and are always subjected during the installation, testing and in advanced production phases, to inevitable and continual checks and adjustments to allow for the perfect integration of the two different devices, that is, for the tubular production and the finishing/closing of the stocking.
In order to overcome the drawbacks of clamping arrangements of the toe in the circular machine, systems have been conceived and realized in which the completed tubular knit product is discharged from the needles and moved away from the knitting machine to be inserted in a sewing machine or darner. These systems are designed in order to engage the knit product with pick-up mechanical members, before this is discharged from the needles, so that it can be inserted in the sewing machine in a precise position, determined by the position in which the product has been taken from the needles. In fact, the seam must be carried out with a determined orientation as to the heel and to the toe formed by the fabric of the knit product.
For example, in US-A-2001/0017046, a system is described for the pick-up of tubular products produced by a circular knitting machine and for their transfer to a sewing machine. The system provides a series of hooks that are inserted into the needle cylinder of the circular machine and that, having reached a certain lifting position below the dial, expand to engage in a series of points of the tubular knit product. When the product is engaged, the hooks radially re-pull to allow the axial extraction of the product from the needle cylinder and therefore its transfer to the sewing machine.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,107,797 describes a different pick-up system of tubular knit products by a circular knitting machine and their transfer to a looping system. The pick-up is performed from above by bringing close to the needles, held in a partially raised position, a piece of equipment equipped with a plurality of annularly placed hooks. The hooks engage the tubular product along a circumference in such a way that, upon discharging the product from the needles, this is held on the hooks of the pick-up device. The latter is raised extracting from above the tubular product from the needle cylinder and so freeing the needle cylinder that can to be used for the formation of a new tubular knit product. The seam or looping of the toe is carried out by overturning a semi-arc of hooks on to the other and transferring the links from a semi-arc to the other pick-up device.
US-A-2001/0039816 describes a similar pick-up system of knit tubular products, which includes a rim of hooks brought next to the cylinder of needles from above to bring the product closer, that for this purpose is aspirated inside the pick-up device and, thanks to the aspiration, is kept engaged to the rim of hooks of the same device. This rim is then modified in its own arrangement bringing closer one to the other two flaps of the sewing point.
EP-A-679746 describes a pick-up system of knit tubular products in the circular machine that produces such tubular products by means of a couple of hooks that are approached, in a radially retreated position, to enter the cylinder space within the needles and, when the needle ring is reached whereon the tubular knit product is temporarily still engaged, one is moved away from the other, to engage in two opposed diametrical points the product which, discharged from the needles, can be extracted from the cylinder of needles to a couple of take elements.
WO-A-001869 describes a device, in which by means of a couple of hooks the tubular product is taken from the circular machine to a sewing machine where the product is engaged to the same hooks that have removed it from the needles of the circular machine. Hooks, oscillating to move one away from the other, distend the flaps of the toe to sew and insert them into the guillotine of the sewing machine.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,068,853 describes a pick-up device of a tubular knit product from a substantially equivalent circular machine to the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,107,797, equipped with a rim of subdivided hooks in two semi-arches. A semi-arc is overturned on to the other to transfer a semi-rank of stitches on an opposite semi-rank of stitches and therefore carry out the looping.
An object of the present invention is to avoid these and other drawbacks, providing a device that integrates the tubular production and the closing of the stocking, interrupting only for a small period the primary production of the product, and without the material flash of processes in the prior art.
The device of the present invention enables a production of the automatic type quantitatively and qualitatively superior in unit time, and without the inherent difficulties in the mechanical integration of two different production devices.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a finished product, expelled during a continuous cycle and with minimum interruptions.
The advantages that derive from the present invention essentially consist in making it possible, during the seam processing of the toe, to continue the tubular production for the following sock, such that a finished product can be obtained without further necessary work after the exit of the stocking from the machine, thereby generating a reduction of time, work and waste of materials.
In an embodiment of the present invention, a traditional tubular production system is joined to a coaxial device, inside the machinery and part of it, that causes a preset length of the tubular fabric to be inserted inside the rim of needles in precise correspondence of the finishing stitches and, by means of proper devices, to free the semi-finished tubing from the rim of machine hooks, letting these free and allowing production to continue by starting a new sock. The same device withdraws to its base position, so that an additional system, appropriately placed and autonomously supplied, can carry out the sewing process of the toe, therefore releasing later the finished product to the exterior, making it available for a new manufacturing process.
According to a different aspect of the invention, a system and a method are provided for the closing of the toe of a tubular knit product, such as a sock or a stocking, so to obtain a product of high quality with high speed, avoiding prolonged stops of the knitwear circular machine.
According to an additional aspect of the invention, a device or system are provided for producing knit tubular products for the closing of the toe upon reversal of the same product, so that the seam is carried out inside the product rather than on the outside.
In one embodiment, a system for creating the seam of the toe of a tubular knit product includes: a circular machine with a cylinder of needles; a pick-up device of the tubular knit product produced by the needles of the machine, which is substantially coaxial with the cylinder of needles of the circular machine and which has an axial movement in relation to the cylinder and in phase with it. The device carries a rim of holding hooks equipped with a movement of radial opening and closing to radially open and engage the tubular fabric produced by the circular machine, and to allow the movement of the pick-up device along the cylinder of needles, transporting the tubular knit product outside of the cylinder of needles of the knitting machine; and a sewing machine to carry out the closing of the toe. Characteristically, according to an aspect of the invention the pick-up device includes a body substantially circular, subdivided in two substantially specular portions, each of them equipped with a semi-arc of holding hooks. The specular portions are hinged, so as to obtain the overturning of a portion onto the other and therefore to mate a semi-arc of oppositely holding hooks with the semi-arc of opposite holding hooks. In this arrangement the pick-up device can allow the closing by seaming the toe, for example by placing the sewing machine below the circular machine, in a position in which the pick-up device is placed after having taken and extracted the tubular knit product to be sewn from the circular machine.
In an embodiment of the invention, the sewing machine is placed sideways, staggered to the circular knitting machine. In this case the pick-up device may be equipped with a transfer movement that converts a coaxial position in relation to the cylinder of needles of the circular machine to an alignment position with the sewing machine.
In an embodiment of the invention, a system is provided for the knitting of tubular knit products and of the seam of the toe of the tubular products that includes:
a circular knitting machine with a cylinder of needles;
a device removing the single tubular knit products from the machines needles, insertable to a cylinder space of the needles and carrying a rim of hooks equipped with a radial opening and closing movement to radially open and engage the tubular fabric produced by the circular machine and close it to allow the movement of the pick-up device within and along the cylinder of needles and to provide extraction power;
and an external sewing machine at the needle cylinder that puts in effect the closing of the tubular knit products produced by the circular machine.
In an embodiment of the invention, a flip-over member is present including two substantially semicircular portions hinged around each other to a substantially diametral overturning axis. Each semicircular portion of the dumper member is equipped with a respective semi-arc of harpoons placed in such a way that overturning a semicircular portion on the other, the harpoons of a semi-arc are placed opposite to the other semi-arc of harpoons. The harpoons of the dumper member receive the tubular knit product from the pick-up device.
With this arrangement it is possible to carry out, for example, the reversal of the tubular knit product when this is engaged to the harpoons of the dumper member, while the pick-up device is not equipped with the overturning function and only has the function to get the product from the cylinder of needles and transfer it, removing it across the same cylinder, towards the flip-over member.
According to an additional aspect, the invention provides a method for the knitting of a tubular knit product with a toe and a border for the closing of the toe of the knit product including the following steps:
In an embodiment, the invention provides a method for the knitting of a tubular knit product with a toe and a border and for the closing of the toe of the knit product, including the following steps:
Possible further advantageous characteristics and embodiments of the invention are outlines in the claims that follow and will be described in greater detail herein with reference to the enclosed figures.
A first embodiment will be described with reference to
A traditional tubular knit production system includes a rotating annulus of needles on a support cylinder that produces the knitted tubing according to a method known in the art. With a coaxial arrangement with respect to the cylinder, a downwards hollow sliding chamber is provided, which is movable with respect to the knitting machine. Inside such duct slides an additional guided device from an external ring having a guide system, which positions the same device concentrically with the production machinery.
Integrated with the guide system is placed the withdrawal mechanism (4) that mainly consists of an annulus of holding hooks (8), providing a diameter appropriately reduced, divided in two specular overturnable halves (5, 6) on themselves by means of a specific hinge (7), with the final task laying in the end seam of the stocking, by means of a semi-circumference precisely overturning the holding hooks on to the other, relatively fixed. The running circular cavity of the withdrawal mechanism (4) is appropriately closed, in order to be able to use pressure or suction to orient and put in traction the knitted tubing constituting the stocking according to an advantageous direction. Alternative constructive choices are possible without modifying the spirit and scope of the invention.
In any case, the internal cavity is equipped with a special valve to allow the expelling of the finished product.
Essentially, the machinery is built to completely integrate the knitting-machine and tubing functions of the productive machine (1), withdrawal mechanism (4), and closing terminal system, because the same integrated machine can interchange the complementary movements between the different systems, such as transportation tapes, cams, tyre cylinders, production needles, and insertion hooks.
The operative process can be summarized as follows:
A first step provides the development of the tubing constituting the stocking by the rim of the main needles, which working method is common to all circular knitwear machines. After completing the production of the preset length of the tubing, already placed gravitationally downwards, in a concentric position with respect to the connecting tube of the withdrawal mechanism (4), a suction is carried out inside the pipe that, thanks to the different conformations of the material of the stitches suitable to the aim of the tubing, determines a longitudinal circular lengthening of the tubing along the entire circumference. The drawing mechanism (4), mechanically transferred near the aforementioned circumference, operates a first movement of radial phasing with the main cylinder, by means of the clutch of a latch (22), integral with the device, that is inserted inside of a placed cam near the productive theatre, moreover the aforementioned function, thanks precisely to its internal circular shape, determines the circular enlarging of holding hooks.
These hooks suitably extend upwards toward the circumference of diverged stitches thanks to the suctions that the product goes through. Such operation is further facilitated by the elasticity of the material constituting the final courses of the semi-finished product.
It is therefore possible to insert the rim of needles of the transfer device in the appropriate final stitches of the tubular product. It is appropriate to underline that, at the end portion of the tubular product, the final knitted turns of the product are manufactured from a different material (Lycra), which is much more elastic with respect to the cotton constituting the stocking. This facilitates, during the suctions, the lengthening of the stitches, allowing a precise and safe hold with respect to the movable support of the tubular product. Moreover, the elasticity itself of the material allows a safe hold on the holding hooks which takes the stitch (13).
The following step provides for the lowering of the device and therefore, thanks to the same contribution of the concentric cam ring present in suitable position on the machinery, the holding hooks re-enter on the tubing at the height of the cotton upper course (18).
It is important to note that, even if in this end step the tubing is still constrained to the main machine, the machine is still in a working arrangement, therefore, the operations carried out at that moment do not constitute any restoring of the main production.
Subsequently, the return step of the movable device, vertically re-crossing the same cam, provides for the return of the movable device coupled with the semi-finished product, removing the last knitted turn made from the needles of the knitting-machine the machine, which can start the production of the following piece.
An additional cam, interposed with respect to the integrated final toe sewing system, and in tangent position, allows the positioning of holding hooks in correspondence with the radial opening to provide the material to a sewing needle.
The device moves then to a predefined position for the overturning of a semi-circumference, therefore bringing in contact the two designated semi-circumferences for subsequent connection.
The two coupled flaps are then sewn by the needle, which, coming across them, creates a first resistant and thin interlacing point that catches the stitches of the flaps, starting the semicircular final seam.
Reduced to its essential structure and hereto to the figures of the included drawings, a system for the seam of the toe of a tubular knit product according to the present invention includes a circular device (4), coaxial to the machine (1) that produces the tubing, inserted and coaxial inside the cylinder of the machine (1). Circular device (4) carries a rim of holding hooks (8) hinged at a point (9) that opens for hooking the stitch below the needles (2) and that, after the machine (1) has freed the stitch (3) for starting a new working phase, the device (4) drops and drags the circular product, transporting it to the sewing machine that carries out the closing of the toe.
To allow a safe and precise hold of the holding hooks (8) on the product (12) the system provides that the cylinder (1) that manufactures the tubular product is programmed to produce the end portion of the product in material that is not elastic (13), and later knit some knitted turns (18) with an elastic yarn such as Lycra. The easy expansion of the stitch turn (18) allows the insertion of holding hooks (8) within the stitch (13) causing a tie effect, clasping to the neck of the terminal curved portion of the hooks.
When the rim of needles (8) opens, the holding hooks are inserted within the stitch (13) at a distance, which thus invites the insertion of holding hooks. At that point the cylinder, which has completed the working of the tubing, frees the tubing letting the stitches (18) compress and go with the approaching hook. This result is obtained thanks to the elastic material from which the stitches are produced in the end portion of the manufacturing of the stocking.
Advantageously for superimposing the two terminal semi-circumferences of the tube to sew, the device (4) has a rim of holding hooks (8) produced in two specular halves (5) and (6) hinged at a point (7) in order to allow the overturning, thanks to the said hinge (7), of the free semi-circumference of holding hooks (5) on the constrained half (6), carrying the holding hooks (8) reaching the end of the material, in speculated vertical symmetrical position, as evidenced in the detailed view of
Advantageously the holding hooks (8) are integral with the device (4) by means of a pin (9) that constitutes fulcrum for the opening of holding hooks.
The invention provides that the device (4) can operate in different ways.
In one embodiment, a cam is provided (10), placed behind the main cylinder (1), having a slot (10A), in which a mating key (22) is inserted, which is coupled with the device (4) and provides a radial orientation to the cam and to the needles.
The rim of needles (8) is opened with precision, at a predetermined moment. To this aim, cam (10) is provided, placed behind the main cylinder (1), having a slot (10B) that allows the enlarging of the holding hooks providing for the easy insertion through the last produced semi-finished product turns. At the moment in which the device (4) ascends vertically inside the cylinder, the rim of needles (8) is closed (
After hooking the stitch, and the product is separated from the cylinder (1), the device (4) vertically falls downwards and when going over the slot (10B) of the cam (10), the holding hooks close and the device is free to move, dragging the hooked product to the holding hooks by means of the toe as shown in
Since the device comes up from behind to the sewing machine the rim of holding hooks must open to facilitate the following overturning of a circular section (5) and therefore to carry out the sewing of the seam.
To such an end in the tubing containing the device (4), near the sewing machine, a movable cam (15) is provided that, surpassing the device (4), allows an excursion of holding hooks to open the desired distance (
The overturning of the rim of holding hooks on the hinge (7) causes the overlap of at least two flaps of the stocking to sew (
The circular device (4) moves vertically inside the cylinder through any movement system that couples it with the cylinder but lets it be free to move. As an example, it is possible that a guide that slides inside the cylinder, and the tubing (25) connected with it, drags the device (4) vertically to get the knit fabric and therefore to drag it to the sewing machine. The transportation mechanism can be designed in order to realize a single tube (25) connected to the cylinder (1), which presents a bend (
In this embodiment, when the device (4) moves beyond the bend, it drags the stocking that is above the same device, held still in such position by the suction. At the moment in which it arrives to the sewing machine, the rim of needles (8) opens and the toe of the stocking is seamed by flapping over the two flaps of the stocking.
In this embodiment, since the device (4) has moved beyond the curve, it is possible to facilitate the downward descent of the product (
In a different embodiment, the device (4) moves on the inside of a pipe, once the cylinder has descended dragging the stocking, it is moved away from the cylinder to which it is applied by an aspirator, and the pipe containing the device (4) is transferred into an axial position with the external sewing machine to the cylinder that produces the product.
The seam can be carried out with any known art, but preferably the following sewing system is used that ensures a greater stability to the seam itself.
To finalize the product a movable sewing machine is provided (20/21/16) placed radially, equipped with sewing needles (16) and capable of rotating 180° for sewing the whole length of the toe. The sewing machine is dynamically synchronized with the various phases of the main knitting-machine (1) and the device (4).
The invention includes means to move transversally and vertically the sewing machine and the related needle (16) with devices known in the art.
The sewing machine, schematically shown in the
The following operations involve repositioning the system after completing production by the circular knitting-machine of the semi-finished product.
Another embodiment of the invention relates to the closing of the toe, upon overturning the semi-finished stocking.
In this embodiment, the needle is inserted between the two coupled flaps, crossing them, and creating a first resistant and thin interlacing point that imprisons both stitches of the flaps, causing the starting of the semicircular final seam.
The present invention can be applied to all circular type machines and provides the advantage of allowing the seam of the toe at the same time that the stocking is produced, because the cylinder has detached the finished product, the product has been caught by the device (4) that continues its movement while simultaneously the cylinder (1) begins to work on a second product.
By using automation of the electronic or mechanical type, the production times of the final seam can be synchronized with those of the production of the following semi-finished product. Such contemporary operation allows a sharp increase in the productivity of the product in comparison with present technology.
The above described productive increase is coupled with saving considerable amounts of raw material.
The present invention relates to a system for seaming the toe of a tubular knit product that includes a circular device (4), coaxial to the machine (1) that produces the tubing. The circular device (4) is inserted inside the cylinder of the machine and carries a rim of holding hooks (8) hinged at a point (9) that open for hooking the stitch below the needles (2) and that, after the machine (1) has freed the knit fabric (3) for starting a the next piece of tubing, drags the circular product to the sewing machine that performs the closing of the toe.
The cylinder of the machine (1) that produces the tubular product is programmed to work the end portion of the product with some knitted loops (18) realised with an elastic yarn such as Lycra, such that the easy expansion of said knitted loops (18) allows the insertion of holding hooks (8) within the stitch (13) that is broader than other stitches, thus facilitating the insertion of the holding hooks.
The device includes a circular body (4) having a rim of holding hooks (8) disposed in two symmetrical halves (5) and (6) hinged at a point (7) in order to allow the overturning, thanks to the hinge (7), of the free half circle of holding hooks (6) against the other constrained half (5), carrying the holding hooks (8) having the end of the fabric in a vertical symmetrical position facing the other hooks.
The hooks (8) are coupled with the device (4) by means of a pin (9) that provides the fulcrum for the opening of holding hooks.
The holding hooks (8) are at least double in number in comparison to the needles of the cylinder (1) that produces the tubing.
The device (4) is in-phase with the cylinder (1) by means of a cam (10) placed behind the main cylinder (1), which is equipped with a slot (10A), inside which there is inserted a key (22) coupled to the device (4) that provides a radial orientation to the cam in relation to the needles.
The cam (10 is placed behind the main cylinder (1), and includes a slot (10B) that allows the enlarging of hinged holding hooks in the point (9). The hooks are then no longer restrained by the wall of the tubing or the cylinder, and open to the preset width, inserting into the last portion of the semi-finished product turns.
The rim of take hooks of the device (4) opens to facilitate the following overturning of a section (5) of the rim, allowing it to carry out the seam.
Inside the tubing containing the device (4), near the sewing machine, a movable cam (15) is provided that, extending beyond the device (4), allows an excursion of the holding hooks, which open at the desired distance and are free to rotate by being hinged on the pin (9), and therefore to overlap of at least two flaps of the stocking to sew when the half rim is rotated about hinge (7).
The circular device (4) moves axially inside the cylinder along a guide that slides inside the cylinder, causing the device (4) to engage the knit fabric and drag it to the sewing machine.
In one embodiment, the cylinder (1) is disposed inside a tube (25) having a U-shaped bend in such a way that the device (4), after engaging the stocking, moves downwards first and then along the bend, moving upwards but in upside down position compared to the descent position.
The device (4), once the bending of the pipe (25) is overcome, drags the stocking that is over the same device, held still in that position by the aspiration realised inside the pipe, going on to open the rim of needles (8) and to sew the stocking by over-lapping two flaps.
The product connected to the device (4), once over the bend, it is pushed downwards by aspiration or other means, after which the rim of needles (8) opens for carrying out the seam of the toe that occurs from upside down by over-flapping the flaps of the same product.
To close the product, there is provided a translating sewing machine (20/21/16) placed radially, which is equipped with sewing needles (16) and may rotate 180° for sewing the whole length of the toe, and which is synchronized with t the main knitting-machine (1) and the device (4).
The sewing machine and the relative needle (16) shift transversely and vertically.
The seam of the product occurs through the following steps:
The sewing system operates on the reverse of the product, by means of appropriate movements of the needle between the two coupled flaps, coming across them, and creating a first resistant and thin interlacing point that catches both loops of the flaps, starting the semicircular final seam.
With specific reference to the figures the following is noted.
Such device includes a rim of holding hooks (8), engaged at two semi-circumferences in order to allow a radial excursion, by means of a hinge point (9). The holding hooks are shaped at the head to suitably insert between the stitches of the tubing (13) and hook with it thanks to the upper bending, in the underside, downstream of the hinge point (7). The hooks have a shape suitable to be actuate by a cam (10), placed behind the rim of needles (2) that produces the product. The two devices (1) and (4) are coaxially aligned, thanks to the guide system (11), containing the device for withdrawal and transportation (4) inside the pipe (25), as disclosed in
The position of last stitches made by the knitting-machine (1) by means of needles (2) is illustrated in detail in the
In
The cylinder (1) then does an empty knitted turn to allow the detachment of the stocking (18) from the needles (2).
The device is now ready for the final seam.
Later (
Finally, (
Therefore, the above described operations are performed the following production by the circular knitting-machine of the semi-finished product.
Another embodiment of the invention is depicted in
40 will now be described.
In this embodiment, the system provides for a circular machine for knitwear 501 equipped with a cylinder of needles 503 and of a dial 505. Reference numeral 507 indicates the needles for the formation of the stitch and reference numeral 509 indicates the machine hooks of dial 505.
Below the cylinder of needles, a tubular member 511 is provided, on the inside of which the tubular knit product is aspirated, indicated as M, which is gradually produced by the knitting members of the circular machine for knitwear 501. Tubing 511 can be inserted and disengaged on the inside, with an axial movement parallel to the axis of the cylinder of needles, while a pick-up device of the product is indicated with 513 and described in greater detail below.
Knitting machine 501 is associated with a flip-over member 515 that has the function of overturning, one onto the other, two complementary flaps of an open end of the product M so to allow the seam to be closed by means of a sewing machine 517 close to member 515. As will be described below, in this embodiment the pick-up device 513 has the function of getting the knit tubular product M from the circular machine 501 and of transferring it into the adjacent flip-over member 515. Once flip-over member 515 has received the tubular knit product, it engages product M with harpoons and begins the overturning from one onto the other of the two flaps defining the open end of the product. Differently from what described with regard to
The pick-up member 513, disclosed in greater detail in
Each holding hook 521 is oscillating around an oscillation point 523 and may extend outwardly. Radial movement of the holding hooks is generally defined as a movement, by means of which an extremity of holding hooks extends outwardly from the axis of the device. Such radial movement provides for a radial extraction and an oscillation movement. However, such movement can be for example a movement of translation, for example along an essentially orthogonal plane to the cylindrical support of the needles.
The movement of extraction, may it be oscillatory, translatory or other, can be actuated in different manners. Preferably, as shown in the embodiment depicted in the drawing, the oscillation is commanded by a substantially conic cam profile 525, provided on a cursor 527 axially sliding along the grooved roller 519. The cam profile 525 simultaneously cooperates with all the lower ends 521A of holding hooks 521. The relative sliding between the cursor 527 and the rim of holding hooks 521 causes the inwardly-directed radial push of the ends 521A of holding hooks with a consequent outward radial movement, because of the oscillation around the higher points 523, end 521B of the holding hooks. This movement serves, on the one hand to engage, with the holding hooks 521 the tubular knit product M when this product is in the circular machine 501 and, on the other end, to bring the stitches engaged by holding hooks 521 on the harpoons of dumper member 515 as described below.
To carry out the relative axial movement between the cursor 527 and the rim of holding hooks 521, t a cylindrical element 529 is placed that forms an upper recess 531, shown in detail in the enlargement of
The recess 531 of cylinder 529 cooperates with an annular projection 527A on the cursor 527, in such a way that when the device 513 is axially inserted into the cylinder space of the needles, the cursor 527 is locked because of the recess 531 cooperating with the projection 527A, while the grooved roller 519 carrying the holding hooks 521 has an upward stroke. This determines the relative sliding between cursor 527 and holding hooks 521 and therefore the outward oscillation of holding hooks due to the cam profile 525. A collar 533 coupled with the stanchion 517 and equipped with an elastic recess 535 cooperating with the lower surface of the cursor 527 blocks with a damping effect the upwards stroke of the pick-up device 513 in a suitable position as described hereinafter.
In
In
In the following step (
In the following step (
In the following step (
In
The structure of the dumper member 515 is shown in
Over the rim of harpoons 541 and of the respective jackstraws 543 carried by the portions 545A, 545B is a double aspirating system, consisting of a first aspirating duct 547 and of a second aspirating duct 549 coaxial to duct 547. The two aspirators 547 and 549 have the function to direct the tubular knit product M respectively before and after the seam of the toe, as will be described with reference to
The sequence of operations performed by the pick-up device 513 in combination with the flip-over member 515 and with the sewing machine 517 is described hereinafter.
In
In the following step (
In the following step (
In the following step (
In the following step (
With this arrangement, a sewing machine 517 can apply the seam that is looping connecting the opposite stitches of each couple of harpoons, as shown in
The double operated reversal by means of the aspiration ducts 547,549, allows carrying out the seam on the internal side of the product M, in such a way that the seam itself does not appears visible when the product is worn. In this embodiment, in which the overturning of two flaps of the toe to be sewn is done by a member different from the pick-up device of the product from the cylinder of needles, contrarily to the configuration illustrated in
Although the embodiment depicted in
The mode of engagement of the tubular product to the hooks of the pick-up device illustrated in
It is to be understood that the description and drawings provided herein relate only to preferred embodiments of the invention, which can vary in forms and structures while remaining within the scope and spirit of the invention.
The above described and additional advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood by referring to the enclosed drawings of embodiments of the invention, in which:
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IT2006/000384 | May 2006 | WO | international |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IT2006/000842 | 12/11/2006 | WO | 00 | 11/18/2008 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2007/135698 | 11/29/2007 | WO | A |
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|---|---|---|---|
| 5551260 | Frullini et al. | Sep 1996 | A |
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| 6164091 | Frullini et al. | Dec 2000 | A |
| 20010017046 | Rumi | Aug 2001 | A1 |
| 20010039816 | Fujiwara et al. | Nov 2001 | A1 |
| 20030233852 | Lonati et al. | Dec 2003 | A1 |
| 20060144095 | Frullini et al. | Jul 2006 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 0679746 | Nov 1995 | EP |
| 0942086 | Sep 1999 | EP |
| 1375719 | Jan 2004 | EP |
| 2004035894 | Apr 2004 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20100199723 A1 | Aug 2010 | US |
