AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR FINISHING SEMIFINISHED PRODUCTS BY KNITTING

The present invention relates to an automatic device for finishing semifinished products by knitting.

The above mentioned device can be particularly advantageous in the hosiery industrial machine field, wherein, as it is well known, hosiery semifinished products are realised starting from relevant braided cords that must then removed at the end of working. This finishing operation is presently entrusted to the operator, who manually removes a knitting wires coupling stitch with working start cord.

It is evident that the above described finished operation is not convenient under an economic point of view and does not permit automation of the whole process for manufacturing semifinished products. Object of the present invention is that of realising an automatic device for finishing semifinished products by knitting permitting quickly removing the above mentioned connection wires, without the manual intervention of the operator.

Another object of the present invention is that of realising an automatic device for finishing semifinished products by knitting provided with adjustment means suitable to permit automatic removal of the above mentioned connection wires for different shapes and sizes of semifinished products.

Further object of the present invention is that of realising an automatic device for finishing semifinished products by knitting that can be easily associated to a hosiery industrial machine, either new of already available on the market.

These and other advantages are all obtained by the present invention as characterised by the enclosed claims. Further features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed specification of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the invention, that are shown for exemplificative but not limitative purposes in the enclosed drawings, wherein: figure 1 shows part of a front schematic view of the inventive device; figure 2 shows a left side schematic view of the device of figure

figure 3 shows a front view of a different embodiment of device of figures 1 and 2; figures 4a and 4b show, in an enlarged scale, the same part of figure 2 in two different operative configurations. Device 1 is integrated, or it can be integrated, in a hosiery industrial machine, generically indicated by reference number 3 and known in the art.

Semifinished products 2 have a first useful portion 4, destined to subsequent operations, and a second scrap portion, as a braided cord, that is used as basic element for starting working and is connected to first useful portion 4 by a heat-soluble wire known in the art.

Semifinished products 2 are made descending, if necessary, by a guide plane 6, from machine 3 along a substantially vertical path, dragged by a first pair of dragging rolls 7, counter rotating each other, and between which semifinished products 2 are tightened. Roll can have a plurality of annular dragging portions cooperating for dragging and advancing semifinished products 2.

According to a first embodiment, device 1 comprises a heat source 9, represented by a thermofan, placed under the plane 6 in correspondence of a heating station 8.

Source 9 is movable along an Archimedean screw 10 due to the rotation caused by screw 10 and a by a motor 11. screw 10 is placed transversely so as to be parallel to semifinished product 2 descending from the machine dragged by rolls 7. Run along which source 9 is linearly moved along screw 10, and thus along station 8, for dissolving heat-soluble seam is regulated by a control station 12 of motor 11 on the basis of the size, or of width size of semifinished products 2. Said adjustment can be of the automatic type or it can be obtained by an operator setting. Movement of Archimedean screw 10 is started on the basis of a consent signal provided by a photocell 13 controlled by station 12

Above mentioned thermofan mentioned as an example can be replaced by every convector or by every irradiating element, for example a vapour generator, or a lamp, a LED or an at least laser beam generator. Device 1 can advantageously further comprise a pneumatic suction conduct 14 placed in correspondence of the heating station 8 and a collection tank 15 connected with the conduct. Function of conduct and

of tank 15 is that or removing cords 5 from advancement path of the first

(useful) portions 4. Collection and evacuation of first portions 4 is carried out by means of a taking and transfer group, already known and not illustrated. According to the embodiment of figure 3, heat source 9 is fixed and comprises a bench 18 of irradiating elements or of connectors placed along the heating station 8.

In this case, function of adjustment of station 12 is exerted directly on bench 18, shutting action filed of the latter along the heating station 8 on the basis of the size, or of width size of semifinished products

2. Particularly, station 12 selectively activates or shields bench 18 irradiating elements or convectors.

For example, irradiating elements can be comprised of lamps or of LEDs, that can be selectively switched on and that can be selectively shielded by ray interception panels, or convectors can be comprised by vapour or hot water ejectors that can be selectively piloted or that can be shielded by jet intercepting walls.

It is evident that, when operating, embodiment of figure 3 is different with respect to the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2 in that seam wires is simultaneously dissolved along its whole development and not progressively time by time.

From the above it is evident that the invention permits reaching the object of realising an automatic device for finishing semifinished products by knitting permitting quickly removing the above mentioned seam wires, without manual intervention of he operator, provided with adjustment means suitable to permit automatic removal of the above mentioned seam wires for different semifinished products shapes or sizes and that can be easily associated to a hosiery industrial machine, either a new one or one already available on the market.