"DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PLACING AND EXTRACTING SOCKS FROM

SOCK FORMS"

Technical domain

The present application relates to a device and method for placing socks in sock forms.

Background

In the state of the art, machines for placing socks in sock forms are already known.

Prior art sock forming machines comprise a sock extraction system which is installed after the sock pressing station. This pressing of the socks is always effected with metal forms, preferably aluminium, placed in a vertical position and having the shape of the sock to be obtained. This vertical position is maintained during the production cycle of the machine and remains as technology used to this day since it allows the machine operator to place the socks by size into the respective metal sock forms.

In the production cycle, the socks are manually introduced into the metal sock forms and are fed into a temperature- controlled heat press and are pressed so that the sock mesh moulds to the metal sock form.

During pressing, the application of pressure and temperature results in the contraction of the sock mesh. This contraction causes the sock to take up the shape given by the metal sock form. This contraction is decisive for the technical problem of deformation of the socks during the extraction movement that the technology now disclosed intends to solve. In fact, the vertical position of the metal sock forms hinders the rectilinear movement of the sock extraction. This rectilinear movement is effected with a clamping fork which presses the sock and performs a movement in the longitudinal direction of the foot, however the shape of the sock heel eventually becomes an obstruction at the outlet of the sock, often causing significant deformation of the loops and of the shape intended for the sock due to the effort that proves necessary for the extraction thereof.

With the technology developed it is intended to overcome the aforementioned problems in extracting the socks, namely the obstruction at the heel outlet and deformation of the sock shape after pressing.

Summary

The present application describes a device for placing and extracting socks from sock forms, comprising a structure

(1) ; a guide (2) ; a set of sock forms (3) ; a system comprising a set of cylindrical cones (5); a set of conveyor belts (6) and a set of suction elements (12) and wherein the sock forms

(3) are positioned vertically along the guide (2) and are conveyed by the guide (2) until they are positioned horizontally and wherein the cylindrical cones (5) are positioned in the space corresponding to the centre of the sock heel and are closed in that position by a vertical movement; wherein the conveyor belts (6) and the cones (5) are positioned between the sock form (3) and that action is controlled by a pneumatic cylinder for opening and closing the cones (11) and a pneumatic cylinder for opening and closing the belts (17) respectively. In one embodiment, the device comprises two bearings, an inner stationary bearing (7) and an outer mobile bearing (8) tensioned by a spring (9) at the base of each sock form (3) .

In another embodiment, the cones (5) have a spiral channel containing a rubber cord (10) .

In another embodiment, independent and different programmed speeds are applied to the cones (5) through parameterization.

In another embodiment, the conveyor belts (6) move simultaneously and in parallel with the rotational movements carried out by the cones (5) .

In another embodiment, the conveyor belts (6) have independent programmed speeds and are closed by pneumatic movements on the sock form (3) by exerting pressure thereon and on the mesh of the sock.

In another embodiment, the socks are dropped on a slat conveyor belt (14) which positions them so as to allow the suction elements (12) to operate.

In yet another embodiment, the suction elements (12) are driven by means of an arm (15) .

In another embodiment, the arm (15) moves the suction elements (12) with the socks and drops them onto the conveyor belt leading to the support table (16) .

In another embodiment, a 90° upward folding from the starting (horizontal) position of the sock forms (3) occurs by means of a second cam (13) . In another embodiment, all movements are processed in synchronism by a controller device.

In another embodiment, the controller device allows the registration of parameters, in particular: pressure on the mesh; individual speeds and timing of the cylindrical cones (5) and conveyor belts (6) ; synchronism between the arm (15) , slat conveyor belt (14) and suction elements (12) .

The present application further describes a method for placing and extracting socks from sock forms characterized in that the positioning of the cones (5) is oriented so that the larger diameter of the cone (5) acts under the outer side of the sock heel and the smaller diameter of the cone (5) acts under the inner side the sock.

In another embodiment, the diameter ratio of the cones (5), namely larger diameter and smaller diameter, is predicted as a function of the greater amount of mesh present on the outer side of the sock heel.

In another embodiment, the extraction of the sock is carried out by performing a non-rectilinear rotational movement in the heel of said sock.

In yet another embodiment, a greater extraction of mesh occurs on the outer side of the sock heel, via the larger diameter of the cone (5) positioned in that area, and a less extraction of mesh occurs on the side of the instep, by means of the smaller diameter of the cone (5) positioned in that area . In another embodiment, the extraction of the socks starts with the heel extraction movement through the rotational movement of the cones (5) and concludes with the movement of the conveyor belts (6) for total extraction.

General Description

A device and method for placing and extracting socks from sock forms, characterized in that it comprises a structure (1) comprising a guide (2) of the movement line, whereby a set of sock forms (3) moves, wherein the socks are arranged, said sock forms (3) being positioned vertically along the path on the guide (2) of the movement line, being positioned horizontally at a certain height in the path by means of a cam (4); a system comprising a set of cylindrical cones (5), which allow extracting each sock by (non-rectilinear) rotational movement on the area corresponding to the sock heel, a set of conveyor belts (6) and a set of suction elements (12) of the socks for subsequent packing.

Said sock forms (3) are made of metal material, preferably aluminium, in which the socks intended to be placed on the form are manually arranged. As mentioned above, said sock forms (3) are positioned vertically along the guide (2) which moves them so as to be able to pass through the steps of placing in the sock forms.

In a first step and with the sock forms (3) being placed in a vertical position already with the socks placed thereon, the guide (2) conveys them to a heat press (not shown in the figures), where they take their definitive shape. They are then directed to the extraction stage, which forces the sock forms (3) to be positioned horizontally, using a stationary stop for the positioning thereof. It should be noted that the guide (2) of the movement line is placed on supports attached to the structure (1), along the entire perimeter of the device, the attachment thereof being effected by welding or screws. In order to ensure a smooth movement, during the lowering thereof to the starting position, two bearings, an inner stationary bearing (7) and an outer mobile bearing (8) tensioned by a spring (9) are mounted on the base of each sock form (3) so as to maintain a constant and smooth adjustment against the guide (2), in the entire moving process of each sock form (3) .

After stopping the sock forms (3) and already in the horizontal position, they are positioned between two cylindrical cones (5), which will in turn be positioned in the space corresponding to the centre of the sock heel, as shown in figure 4. It should be noted that the cones (5) have a spiral channel to allow the placement of a rubber cord (10) on the surface thereof, which will act on the mesh of the sock, exerting pressure and traction thereon, in order to allow the extraction thereof. Independent and different programmed speeds are applied to the cones (5) through parameterization and whenever extraction difficulties occur.

The mechanical adjustment of the pressure exerted by the cones (5) onto the sock mesh is carried out by a vertical movement for closing the cones (5) and the conveyor belts (6), controlled by a pneumatic cylinder for opening and closing the cones (11) and a pneumatic cylinder for opening and closing the belts (17) respectively. The positioning of the cones (5) is oriented so that the larger diameter of the cone (5) acts under the outer side of the sock heel and the smaller diameter of the cone (5) acts under the inner side the sock, between the instep and the leg. The diameter ratio of the cones (5), namely larger diameter and smaller diameter, was predicted as a function of the greater amount of mesh present on the outer side of the sock heel. This positioning allows the extraction of the sock to be carried out by performing a non-rectilinear rotational movement in the heel of said sock. In this way, it is guaranteed that the mesh composing the sock does not undergo any type of deformation .

The rotational movement of the sock heel occurs because the cones (5) are in rotation and because there is a pneumatic movement closing said cones (5) against the sock form (3) in order to obtain a pressure under the mesh of the sock. In this way, a greater extraction of the mesh occurs on the outer side of the sock heel, via the larger diameter of the cone (5) positioned in that area, and a less extraction of mesh occurs on the side of the instep, by means of the smaller diameter of the cone (5) positioned in that area, as shown in figure 5.

For the complete extraction of the sock placed in the sock form (3), the two conveyor belts (6) are simultaneously moved, arranged in the upper and lower position in relation to the sock form (3) in parallel with the rotational movements carried out by the cones (5), as shown in Figure 4. These conveyor belts (6) have independent programmed speeds and are closed by pneumatic movements on the sock form (3) and exert pressure thereon, consequently, also on the mesh of the sock.

The extraction methodology of the sock starts with the heel extraction movement through the rotational movement of the cones (5) and concludes with the movement of the conveyor belts (6) for total extraction. The socks are dropped on a slat conveyor belt (14) which positions them so as to allow the suction elements (12) to operate. These are actuated by means of an arm (15), which, after the socks are collected, will move them towards the conveyor belt leading to the support table (16), whereupon the socks are released, which are then sent to the support table to be manually collected for subsequent labelling and packaging as shown in figures 8, 9 and 10.

Performing all movements synchronously is processed from a controller device designed specifically for adjusting and managing of the device.

Depending on the different styles of socks and also the yarns of its composition, the controller device allows the registration of the various parameters to be considered before starting the process of placing the socks in the sock forms, such as:

- Pressure on the mesh;

- Individual speeds and timing of the cylindrical cones (5) and conveyor belts (6);

- Synchronism between the arm (15), slat conveyor belt (14) and suction elements (12) .

Subsequently to the extraction of the socks, the 90° upward folding of the sock forms (3) from the starting position, the horizontal position, is carried out upon new mechanical movement made possible by the action of a second metal cam (13) . The sock forms (3) return to the vertical position, being able to receive further socks and proceed with the process . Brief Description of the Figures

For an easier understanding of the technique, drawings are herein attached, which represent preferred embodiments and which, however, are not intended to limit the scope of the present application.

Figure 1 - Schematic representation of the device, wherein the following reference numbers represent:

4 - Cam

7 - Inner stationary bearing

8 - Outer mobile bearing

Figure 2 - Schematic representation of the device, wherein the following reference numbers represent:

9 - Spring

13 - Second cam

Figure 3 - schematic representation of the extraction movement of the sock under rotation.

Figure 4 - Schematic representation of the device, wherein the following reference numbers represent:

3- Sock form

5- Cone

6- Belt

10- Rubber cord

Figure 5 - Schematic representation of the sock form and movement of the cone thereon.

Figure 6 - Schematic representation of the device, wherein the following reference numbers represent:

1 - Structure 2 - Guide

3- Sock form

5- Cone

6- Belt

Figure 7 - Schematic representation of the device, wherein the following reference numbers represent:

1 - Structure

2 - Guide

3- Sock form

5- Cone

6- Belt

12 - Suction elements

Figure 8 - Schematic representation of the device, wherein the following reference numbers represent:

12 - Suction elements

Figure 9 - Schematic representation of the device, wherein the following reference numbers represent:

14- Slat conveyor belt

15- Arm

16- Conveyor belt for the support table

Figure 10 - Schematic representation of the device, wherein the following reference numbers represent:

12 - Suction elements

16- Conveyor belt for the support table

Figure 11 - Schematic representation of the opening and closing of the cones, wherein the following reference number represents :

11 - Pneumatic cylinder for opening and closing the cones Figure 12 - Schematic representation of the opening and closing of the belts, wherein the following reference number represents :

17 - Pneumatic cylinder for opening and closing the belts Description of the embodiments

Hereinafter, some embodiments shall be described in more detail, which are not however intended to limit the scope of the present application.

The present application relates to a system and method for placing socks in sock forms.

The present technology is of course in no way restricted to the embodiments herein described and a person of ordinary skill in the art will be capable of providing many modification possibilities thereto without departing from the general idea of the invention as defined in the claims.

All embodiments described above are obviously combinable with each other. The following claims further define preferred embodiments.