The present invention relates to an apparatus for loading a line closing machine.

In the hosiery industry, much of the production of panti-hose uses a line closing machine such as a Takatori Line Closer. Hitherto, such line closing machines are loaded manually with two stockings which are to be seamed into a pair of panti-hose.

The present invention seeks to provide an apparatus for loading a line closing machine with stockings to be seamed into a pair of panti-hose.

Accordingly, the present provides an apparatus for loading a line closing machine, the apparatus comprising a carousel unit having a plurality of transfer arm means, the carousel unit being rotatable to move said transfer arm means successively through a loading station and at least one transfer station; and wherein each said transfer arm means has support means for supporting a pair of stockings, said support means being movable between a first position enabling engagement of supporting means of said line closing machine with said stockings and a second position to allow said supporting means to disengage said stockings from said support means.

The present invention is further described hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of two known line closing machines with a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in outline;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a transfer arm of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3a is a side elevation of a pair of fingers of the arms of Figure 2 in an extended position;

Figure 3b is an end elevation of the fingers of Figure 3a as seen in the direction of arrow A of Figure 3a;

Figure 3c is a plan view of the fingers of Figure 3a;

Figures 4a, 4b and 4c are views similar to those of Figures 3a, 3b and 3c showing the pair of fingers in a retracted position;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the arm of Figure 2 in a loading position;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the transfer arm prior to engagement with supporting arms of a line closing machine;

Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 6 showing the supporting arms engaged in the stockings on the arm;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the arrangement of Figure 7;

Figures 9 and 10 are view similar to that of Figure 7 showing subsequent operating positions of the supporting arms; and

Figure 11 is a plan view of a portion of a cam track of the apparatus at a transfer station.

Referring to the drawings. Figure 1 shows two line closing machines 10, 12 with a preferred form of loading apparatus 14 according to the present invention positioned in alignment with and between the two line closing machines. Such line closing machines are well known and do not form part of this invention. Each line closing machine has six pairs of supporting arms 16 and the machines are arranged to rotate in the same direction (clockwise as seen in Figure 1), 30 degrees out of phase, such that the pairs of supporting arms of the two machines alternately present themselves to the loading apparatus to enable transfer of pairs of stockings from transfer arms 18 of the loading apparatus to supporting arms of the line closing machines at transfer stations 20. To this end, the loading apparatus is provided with twelve equally angularly spaced transfer arms 18, a first set (six) of these (every alternate one) cooperating with one of the line closing machines and a second set (the other six)

cooperating with the other line closing machine.

The loading apparatus 14 rotates in an anti-clockwise direction and as each alternate transfer arm 18 of those cooperating with the line closing machine 10 passes through a transfer station 20 the transfer arm is extended to enable transfer of the stockings. The extension of the transfer arms can be effected by suitable means such as fixed cams which act on a camming surface on each of the arms (described further below) .

Figure 2 shows a free end of a transfer arm of the loading apparatus, the arm having an elongate support member 22 which carries at its outer end a generally U-shaped bracket 24. The outer ends of the limbs of the U are joined by a shaft 26 on which are supported two pairs of support fingers 28, 30 and 32, 34. The pairs of fingers are slidable on the shaft 26 towards and away from each other and can also be pivoted from a generally horizontal attitude as shown in Figure 2 , downwardly through 90 degrees to a generally vertical attitude.

In addition, the fingers of each pair are movable relative to one another between a retracted position as shown in Figure 4 and an extended position as shown in Figure 3. As can be seen in Figures 3b and 4b the fingers are generally planar in shape and each finger has an upper portion which lies in a generally vertical plane and a lower portion which is angled outwardly at an angle 36 of typically 15 degrees.

Movement of the fingers towards and away from one another may be controlled by a simple piston/cylinder arrangement. Pivotal movement of fingers may also be controlled by a simple pis on/cylinder arrangement or other suitable arrangement.

In use, an operator at a loading station loads two stockings for forming a pair of panti-hose onto the transfer arm fingers, one stocking being stretched across the fingers 28, 32 and the other stocking being stretched across the fingers 30, 34. The fact that the lower portions of the fingers are angled outwardly helps to retain the stockings on the fingers, the fingers being spaced sufficiently far apart so as to retain each stocking on the fingers by virtue of the elasticity of the waistband of each stocking. During loading the fingers 28, 30 and 32, 34 of each pair are in their extended positions (Figure 3a) to facilitate loading.

As the loading apparatus rotates, the two pairs of fingers 28, 30 and 32, 34 are displaced further apart along the shaft 26 to stretch further the waistbands of the two stockings. As movement of the transfer arm continues towards the cooperating line closing machine the fingers of each pair are retracted into the position shown in Figure 4a and are also pivoted about the shaft 26 into the position shown in Figure 6. Figure 6 shows that as the transfer arm moves towards the associated transfer station 20 it moves towards a guide rail 36 of the line closing machine and a cooperating pair of supporting arms 16 of the line closing machine. The support member 22 of the transfer arm 18 is

pivotally mounted at or adjacent its end remote from the fingers 28 to 34 to an elongate slide 50 by means of a generally horizontal pivot 52. This allows the support member 22 to pivot in a generally vertical plane from the generally horizontal attitude shown in Figure 7 to the raised position shown in Figure 9.

The slide 50 is guided for axial sliding movement in a guide 54 so as to move the support member 22 along its axis, radially of the apparatus 14 between a retracted position and the extended position shown in Figure 9. Axial movement of the slide 50 and therefore of the support member 22 is effected by means of a cam 56 which acts on a cam follower 58 secured to the underside of the slide 50. The slider 50 and support member 22 are biased into the retracted position by suitable resilient means (not shown) such as a coil spring.

As the transfer arm 18 moves towards the transfer station 20 the cam follower 58 moves along a cam track 60 which extends along a generally circular path. As the arm 18 moves into the transfer station 20 the cam follower 58 is diverted from the generally circular path onto a further cam track 62 by a switch cam 64. The cam track 62 extends outwardly of the circular path, then generally parallel, and then back towards the circular path so that as the transfer arm 18 moves into the transfer station the cam follower 58 follows the cam 62 to extend the support member 22. The size of the fingers 28 to 34 and the spacing of the pairs of fingers are such as to allow the supporting arms 16 to

penetrate into the stockings as can be seen in Figure 7, when the transfer arm 18 moves into the transfer station 20. At this point the pairs of fingers are moved towards one another, as shown in Figure 8 to a position as close as possible to the supporting arms 16 without actually contacting the latter. The extension of the support member 22 as the transfer arm moves into the transfer station causes the supporting arms 16 of the line closing machine to penetrate well into the stockings.

As the transfer arm 18 approaches or reaches its outermost position the pairs of fingers 28, 30 and 32, 34 are pivoted upwards into the position shown in Figure 4. Since the stockings are prevented from moving with the fingers by the supporting arms 16, the result is that the stockings are drawn from the fingers and retained on the supporting arms 16.

As the line closing machine 10 and the loading apparatus 14 continue to rotate the slider 52 and the support member 22 may be raised into the position shown in Figure 9. This is to ensure that the transfer arm 18 does not risk fouling any attachments which may be fitted either to the line closing machine or the loading apparatus. At the same time, the cam follower 58 follows the trailing portion of the cam 62 to allow the transfer arm to retract. Once the transfer arm has passed out of the transfer station 20 the arm is lowered into its horizontal position.

If, for whatever reason, a transfer arm is not loaded with a pair

of stockings then it is desirable that the associated support member and slide should not be extended at the transfer station. To this end, the cam 60 is continued along the generally circular path through the transfer station but is provided adjacent the leading end of the cam 62 with a cam switch 64 which is pivotable between a first position shown in dotted lines in Figure 10 and second position shown in solid lines.

When the cam switch 64 is in its second position it guides the cam follower 58 around the outer cam 62. However, when the cam switch 64 is in its first position the cam follower 58 is allowed to continue along the generally circular path of the cam 60. The downstream end portion 70 of the cam 62 is pivoted on the cam 62 such that it pivots out of the way when contacted by a cam follower 58 travelling inside the cam 62 to allow the cam follower to pass. The end portion 70, however, provides support for a cam follower 58 passing on the outside of the cam 62 since its free end rests on the cam 60.

Actuation of the cam switch 64 may be effected by any suitable means, for example by an electric motor or solenoid, whilst the presence or absence of stockings on the transfer arm 18 may be monitored by any suitable means such as a light sensor which receives a beam of light which is interrupted by the presence of stockings, the signal from the sensor controlling actuation of the cam switch 64. In addition, the cam switch 64 and the corresponding cam switch at the two transfer stations are controlled to cause the first set of transfer arms 18 to extend

at one of the transfer stations and the second set of transfer arms 18 to extend at the other transfer station so that the stockings on each alternate _' transfer arm are transferred at one station and the remaining stockings are transferred at the other station.