BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention: The present invention relates to a sock turning device.

2. Brief description of the prior art: In conventional factories, socks from knitting machines are manually turned for further processing. Workers are employed specifically for that purpose. This is expensive and, therefore, raises the manufacturing costs.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device for automatically turning socks from a knitting machine so that workers specifically employed for that purpose are no longer required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with a sock turning method comprising axially receiving and guiding a sock with an open end, holding the open end of the sock with the open end being in open position, axially moving at least one sock turning member about the held open end of the sock in view of turning the sock, and releasing the sock after that sock has been turned.

The present invention also relates to a sock turning device comprising means for axially receiving and guiding a sock with an open end, means for holding the open end of the sock with this open end in open position, at least one sock turning member mounted for axial movement about the held open end of the sock, means for axially moving this sock turning member in view of turning the sock, and means for releasing the sock after that sock has been turned.

According to the subject invention, there is further provided a sock turning method comprising: inserting a sock with an open end on a rod, and guiding the sock along this rod, the rod having proximal and distal ends; spreading apart a set of articulated jaws: -mounted adjacent to the proximal end of the rod; -articulated between a central closed position and a spread apart position; and -enclosed in a tube coaxial with the rod and having an inner wall and an inner tube diameter;

when the jaws are surrounded by the open end of the sock guided by the rod to thereby squeeze this open end of the sock between the jaws and the inner wall of the tube; moving axially a sleeve: -having an outer wall, and an outer sleeve diameter smaller than both the inner tube diameter and an opening defined between the spread apart jaws; and -mounted coaxial with the rod on the same side of the set of articulated jaws; from an initial sleeve axial position toward and through the opening formed between the spread apart jaws until the sleeve reaches the end of a sleeve axial stroke, whereby, since the open end of the sock is squeezed between the spread apart jaws and the inner wall of the tube, this axial movement of the sleeve causes partial turning of the sock; when the sleeve has reached the end of the sleeve axial stroke, moving axially a bushing: -having an inner gripping surface with a diameter substantially corresponding to the outer sleeve diameter; and -mounted coaxial with the rod, tube and sleeve on the side of the set of articulated jaws opposite to the rod and sleeve; from an initial bushing axial position toward the distal end of the rod whereby, upon axial movement of the bushing, the inner gripping surface of the bushing grips the sock to slide that sock on the outer wall of the sleeve and complete turning of the sock; after turning of the sock is completed, axially moving the sleeve back to the initial sleeve axial position, axially moving the bushing

back to the initial bushing axial position, and returning the articulated jaws from the spread apart position to the central closed position; and releasing the sock.

Preferably, releasing the sock comprises pushing the sock by means of a fork, and the sock turning method further comprises aspirating the released sock.

Still in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a sock turning device comprising: a rod for receiving and guiding a sock with the rod inserted in the sock, this rod having proximal and distal ends; a set of articulated jaws mounted adjacent to the proximal end of the rod, these jaws being articulated between a central closed position and a spread apart position; a tube coaxial with the rod and enclosing the set of articulated jaws, this tube having an inner wall and an inner tube diameter; a sleeve having an outer wall, and an outer sleeve diameter smaller than both the inner tube diameter and an opening defined between the spread apart jaws, the sleeve being mounted coaxial with the rod on the same side of the set of articulated jaws; a bushing having an inner gripping surface with a diameter corresponding substantially to the outer sleeve diameter, the bushing being mounted coaxial with the rod, tube and sleeve on the side of the set of articulated jaws opposite to the rod and sleeve; means for spreading apart the articulated jaws when those jaws are surrounded by an open end of the sock guided by the rod

to thereby squeeze the open end of the sock between the jaws and the inner wall of the tube; means for moving the sleeve axially from an initial sleeve axial position toward the bushing through the opening defined between the spread apart jaws until the sleeve reaches the end of a sleeve axial stroke, whereby, since the open end of the sock is squeezed between the spread apart jaws and the inner wall of the tube, the axial movement of the sleeve causes partial turning of the sock; when the sleeve has reached the end of the sleeve axial stroke, means for moving axially the bushing from an initial bushing axial position toward the distal end of the rod whereby, upon axial movement of the bushing, the inner gripping surface of the bushing grips the sock to slide that sock on the outer wall of the sleeve and complete turning of the sock; after turning of the sock is completed, means for axially moving the sleeve back to the initial sleeve axial position, means for axially moving the bushing back to that initial bushing axial position, and means for returning the articulated jaw from the spread apart position to the central closed position; and means for releasing the sock.

The present invention still further relates to a sock turning device comprising a sock receiving and guiding rod, a set of articulated jaws, a tube, a sleeve, a bushing, a jaw closing and spreading apart mechanism, a sleeve axially moving mechanism, a bushing axially moving mechanism, and a sock release mechanism. The sock receiving and guiding rod has proximal and distal ends. The set of articulated jaws are mounted adjacent to the proximal end of the rod, and are articulated between a central closed position and a spread apart position. The tube

is coaxial with the rod, encloses the set of articulated jaws, and has an inner tube diameter. The sleeve has an outer sleeve diameter smaller than both the inner tube diameter and an opening defined between the spread apart jaws, and is mounted coaxial with the rod on the same side of the set of articulated jaws. Regarding the bushing, it has an inner gripping surface with a diameter corresponding substantially to the outer sleeve diameter. This bushing is also mounted coaxial with the rod, tube and sleeve on the side of the set of articulated jaws opposite to the rod and sleeve. The jaw closing and spreading apart mechanism is connected to the set of articulated jaws, the sleeve axially moving mechanism is connected to the sleeve, and the bushing axially moving mechanism is connected to the bushing.

According to preferred embodiments of this sock turning device: -the proximal end of the sock receiving and guiding rod is bell-shaped to guide the open end of the sock around the set of articulated jaws in central closed position; -the inner gripping surface of the bushing is made of rubber material ; -the sock release mechanism comprises a sock pushing fork; and -the sock turning device further comprises a vacuum tube for aspirating the released sock, this vacuum tube preferably comprising a frusto-conical opening.

The objects, advantages and other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non restrictive description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the appended drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the sock turning device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a sock guiding rod of the sock turning device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the sock guiding rod of Figure 2 guiding a sock; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the sock turning device showing a sock guided toward a set of jaws by means of the sock guiding rod; Figure 5 is a top plan view of the set of jaws in respective, central position;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the set of jaws in respective, spaced apart positions; Figure 7 is a side elevational view of a portion of the sock turning device of Figure 1 showing a lower open end of a sock held in position by means of the set of jaws; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the sock turning device of Figure 1 showing operation of a vertical sleeve to turn a sock; Figure 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the sock turning device of Figure 1 showing further operation of the vertical sleeve to turn a sock; Figure 10 is a perspective view of a bushing with an inner rubber annulus; Figure 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the sock turning device of Figure 1 showing operation of the bushing of Figure 10; Figure 12 is a perspective view of a portion of the sock turning device of Figure 1 showing operation of the bushing of Figure 10 to turn a sock; Figure 13 is a perspective view of a portion of the sock turning device of Figure 1 showing further operation of the bushing of Figure 10 to turn a sock;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a portion of the sock turning device of Figure 1 showing an axially movable arm for releasing a sock after it has been turned; Figure 15 is a perspective view of a portion of the sock turning device of Figure 1 showing operation of the axially movable arm of Figure 14 to release a turned sock; Figure 16 is a perspective view of a portion of the sock turning device of Figure 1 showing aspiration of a turned sock through a vacuum tube; Figure 17 is a perspective view of a portion of the sock turning device of Figure 1 showing the frusto-conical shape of the bottom of a vertical cylindrical tube through which the turned socks are aspirated; and Figure 18 is a rear elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the sock turning device according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The sock turning device first comprises a vertical sleeve 1 (Figure 1) and a vertical rod 2 (Figure 2) located inside of and coaxial with the sleeve 1.

When a sock such as 3 (Figure 3) leaves the knitting machine (not shown), it is positioned and received on the upper end (not shown) of the vertical rod 2. The sock 3 then slides downwardly on the rod 2 inside the vertical sleeve 1.

The lower end of the vertical rod 2 is formed with a bell- shaped bulge 4 (Figures 2 and 3) to guide the open, lower end of the sock 3 around a set of three jaws 5-7, i. e. in the position shown in Figure 4.

When the open, lower end of the sock 3 is in the position of Figure 4, the set of three jaws 5-7 are spread apart from their respective central positions as shown in Figure 5 to their respective, spread-apart positions of Figure 6.

When the jaws 5-7 are in their respective, spread-apart positions of Figure 6, the open, lower end of the sock 3 is squeezed between the jaws 5-7 and the inner wall of a plastic vertical housing tube 8, as illustrated in Figure 7. The vertical sleeve 1 is then moved downwardly through air cylinders such as 9. Since one end of the sock 3 is squeezed between the jaws 5-7 and the inner wall of tube 8, downward movement of the vertical sleeve 1 causes turning of the sock 3 on the outer face of the sleeve 1 (see Figure 8).

When vertical sleeve 1 reaches the lower end of its course as shown in Figure 9, the sock 3 is partially turned on that sleeve 1. To complete turning of the sock 3, a bushing 10 is used. As illustrated in Figure 10, the bushing 10 is coaxial with sleeve 1, has a larger diameter than sleeve 1, and is provided with an inner rubber annulus 11

located in a plane perpendicular to the geometrical axis of the bushing 10. As illustrated in Figure 11, bushing 10 can be moved upwardly by means of air cylinders 12 and 13. The inner diameter of the rubber annulus 11 is dimensioned with respect to the outer diameter of the vertical sleeve 1 to enable the rubber annulus 11 to grasps the sock 3 and pull it upwardly on the vertical sleeve 1 (Figure 12) and thereby complete turning of the sock 3.

After the bushing 10 has reached the upper end of its course, the vertical sleeve 1 is moved upwardly from the lower end of its course back to the upper end of its course while the bushing 10 is moved downwardly from the upper end of its course back to the lower end of its course, in view of releasing the sock 3.

To ensure complete release of the sock 3, an arm 14 with a forked end 15 is moved axially to push the turned sock 3. As can be seen, the arm 14 is installed at an angle about the geometrical axis of the sleeve 1 and bushing 10. In operation, the arm 14 is moved from a retracted position (Figure 11) to an extended position (Figure 14) by an air cylinder 16 (Figure 14) to push the turned sock. Figure 15 shows how the arm 14 pushes the turned sock 3 to withdraw this sock 3 from the jaws 5-7. Following this operation, the arm 14 is returned to its retracted position (Figure 11), and the jaws 5-7 are moved from their respective, spaced-apart positions of Figure 6 back to their respective, central positions of Figure 5.

As can be seen, the lower portion of the sock turning device is housed into a vertical cylindrical tube 18, and the bottom of this vertical cylindrical tube 18 is connected to a vacuum tube 180 to aspirate

the sock 3. Figure 16 shows the released sock 3 which is aspirated through the vacuum tube 180 at the bottom of the tube 18. The bottom 17 of vertical tube 18 around the opening of the vacuum tube 180 is frusto-conical as shown in Figure 17 to facilitate penetration of the sock 3 in that vacuum tube 180.

Finally, Figure 18 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the sock turning device including the pressurized air connections such as 20 and valves such as 21. Although this is not shown in the drawings, electronic controls and sensors (optical sensors or others) are provided to control the operation of the different air cylinders and parts of the sock turning device according to the present invention.

Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of a preferred embodiment thereof, this embodiment can be modified at will, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention.