Machine for handling tubular knitted articles, such as socks or the like

Abstract

The machine comprises: at least one tubular member ( 377 ) to transport the articles (M); a container ( 301 ) in which said articles are placed in bulk; pick-up members ( 305 ) to pick up individual articles from said container; a feed path of the articles; detection means ( 329 ) to identify the orientation of the articles along said path; a stretching device to stretch open an end of an article and load said article onto said tubular member. Also provided are members ( 341 ) to discard articles oriented with the first end farther forward than the second end with respect to the direction of feed of the article along said path, and to feed toward said stretching device articles oriented with the second end farther forward than the first end with respect to said direction of feed.

1 . A machine for handling tubular knitted articles, such as socks or the like, with a first end and a second end, comprising:
 at least one tubular member to transport the articles;   a container in which said articles are randomly disposed;   pick-up members to pick up individual articles from said container;   a feed path of the articles;   detection means to identify the orientation of the articles along said path;   a stretching device to stretch open an end of an article and load said article onto said tubular member;   
       characterized in that it also comprises members to discard articles oriented with the first end farther forward than the second end with respect to the direction of feed of the article along said path, and to feed toward said stretching device articles oriented with the second end farther forward than the first end with respect to said direction of feed. 
     
     
         2 . Machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first end and said second end are respectively the toe and the elastic band of the tubular knitted article. 
     
     
         3 . Machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first end and said second end are respectively the band and the toe of the tubular knitted article. 
     
     
         4 . Machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said pick-up members are multiple. 
     
     
         5 . Machine as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said detection means are multiple. 
     
     
         6 . Machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said detection means are detection means are disposed along a trajectory of said pick-up members, said pick-up members being controlled to hold the articles oriented with the second end being the leading end and release into the container articles oriented with the first end being the leading end. 
     
     
         7 . Machine as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said pick-up members are provided with a vertical movement, said detection means being disposed along the vertical trajectory of said pick-up members. 
     
     
         8 . Machine as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising along said feed path a conveyor, on which the articles picked up from said container by mean of said pick-up members are disposed, and wherein said detection means are disposed along said conveyor. 
     
     
         9 . Machine as claimed in claim  1 , comprising a recirculation path, which extends from a position along said feed path towards said container. 
     
     
         10 . Machine as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said recirculation path extends from a position along said conveyor toward said container. 
     
     
         11 . Machine as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said recirculation path is a pneumatic path. 
     
     
         12 . Machine as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a storage buffer for said articles, between the pick-up members and said stretching device. 
     
     
         13 . Machine as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of tubular members, disposed and controlled to pass through a plurality of stations. 
     
     
         14 . Machine as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said tubular members are supported by a rotating assembly. 
     
     
         15 . Machine as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said rotating assembly rotates about a vertical axis. 
     
     
         16 . Machine as claimed in  claim 13 , comprising a loading station, wherein said stretching device is disposed. 
     
     
         17 . Machine as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein disposed in said loading station is at least one pair of retaining elements of the elastic band of the articles, movable in relation to each other, so that they can move toward and away from each other, said retaining elements engaging the elastic band of said tubular article to open it and prepare it to be picked up by said stretching device. 
     
     
         18 . Machine as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein disposed in said loading station are at least two pairs of retaining elements of the elastic band of the articles, each associated with a respective pick-up member. 
     
     
         19 . Machine as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said stretching device is positionable to cooperate alternately with one or with the other of said at least two pairs of retaining elements of the elastic band of the articles. 
     
     
         20 . Machine as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said pair of pairs of retaining elements of the elastic band of the articles are mounted on an oscillating arm to take a first position to engage the elastic band and a second position to present the elastic band to said stretching device. 
     
     
         21 . Machine as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the pick-up members are disposed so that each article picked up is fed between the two retaining elements of said at least one pair. 
     
     
         22 . Machine as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said retaining elements of the elastic band of the articles are at least in part suction elements. 
     
     
         23 . Machine as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said loading station comprises a reversing device, to reverse the tubular articles. 
     
     
         24 . Machine as claimed in  claim 13 , comprising a reversing station of the tubular articles, wherein a reversing device is disposed to reverse the tubular articles. 
     
     
         25 . Machine as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said reversing device comprises at least one suction tube and one stretching member, said stretching member transferring the elastic band of the article onto the suction tube. 
     
     
         26 . Machine as claimed in  claim 13 , comprising an orientation station of the tubular article to position a pocket of fabric of said tubular article in a specific angular position with respect to the tubular member over which it is inserted. 
     
     
         27 . Machine as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein said orientation station comprises: at least one sensor positionable at the side of said tubular member in proximity to an end edge of said tubular member and suitable to detect the fabric of the tubular article; and an actuator to rotate the tubular member and said at least one sensor with respect to each other about the axis of the tubular member, a control unit being provided and programmed to determine the angular position of the tubular article on the basis of the signal of said sensor. 
     
     
         28 . Machine as claimed in  claim 26 , comprising a retaining member of the tubular article and means to rotate the article with respect to the tubular member or vice versa about the axis of the tubular member. 
     
     
         29 . Machine as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a station to pick-up and transfer the tubular article to a rectilinear guide, said station comprising a pick-up member provided with a plurality of engaging elements of the toe or the article, disposed about the axis of the tubular member positioned in the pick-up and transfer station, and which have a variable geometry to take alternately a circular or polygonal configuration and an essentially rectilinear flattened configuration. 
     
     
         30 . Machine as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein said engaging elements are divided into a first series of elements and a second series of elements, in said flattened configuration the engaging elements of the two series taking a position wherein they are adjacent and opposite each other, with the toe of the article disposed therebetween in a flattened and essentially rectilinear configuration, the edge of the toe being divided into two edge portions aligned with and adjacent to each other. 
     
     
         31 . Machine as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein said pick-up member comprises at least one actuator to carry the engaging elements alternately to a flattened position and to an annular or polygonal position surrounding the axis of the loading member. 
     
     
         32 . Machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said tubular members comprise extractable stretching means, to stretch the toe of the article, which impose a polygonal configuration on the toe of the article inserted over the tubular member. 
     
     
         33 . Machine as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein said stretching means of the toe comprise a plurality of tabs, essentially parallel to the axis of the tubular member. 
     
     
         34 . Machine as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein said stretching means are disposed and designed to impose a quadrangular configuration on the toe of the article, preferably rectangular and especially square. 
     
     
         35 . Machine as claimed in  claim 33 , comprising four engaging elements of the toe of the article, coordinated with four extractable tabs. 
     
     
         36 . Machine as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein said stretching means are movable parallel to the axis of the tubular member to transfer the toe of the article from the tubular member to the engaging elements of the toe. 
     
     
         37 . Machine as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein said pick-up member has a plurality of needles designed and arranged to engage respective portions of the toe of the article. 
     
     
         38 . Machine as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein extractors are associated with said needles to withdraw the article from the needles. 
     
     
         39 . Machine as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein each of said engaging elements comprises a plate provided with a plurality of pick-up means of the toe of the article. 
     
     
         40 . Machine as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein when the engaging elements are disposed in the polygonal configuration, each plate is disposed between two consecutive tabs. 
     
     
         41 . Machine as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein said pick-up means are constituted by needles. 
     
     
         42 . Machine as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein said plates are hinged to each other about axes essentially parallel to the axis of said tubular member. 
     
     
         43 . Machine as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein said pick-up means of each plate are aligned according to a direction orthogonal to the hinge axes with which the respective plate is connected to the adjacent plate. 
     
     
         44 . Machine as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein said needles are movable orthogonally to the respective plate. 
     
     
         45 . Machine as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein each plate is provided with a plurality of holes inside which said needles penetrate. 
     
     
         46 . A device for aligning an edge of a knitted tubular article, including:
 a tubular member for receiving said knitted tubular article, said tubular member having a front end and a side wall;   an operative head, arranged in front of said front end of said tubular member; said operative head and said tubular member being arranged and controlled to move one towards and away from one another along a direction substantially parallel to the axis of said tubular member;   a plurality of contacting members on said operative head, movable towards said side wall of the tubular member.   
     
     
         47 . Device according to  claim 46 , wherein each contacting member is provided with a sensor for detecting the edge of the knitted tubular article. 
     
     
         48 . Device according to  claim 47 , wherein each contacting member is controlled by a signal generated by the corresponding sensor to approach said tubular member. 
     
     
         49 . Device according to  claim 46 , wherein a plurality of said contacting members are controlled by corresponding actuators for individually and selectively move each said contacting member toward said side wall of the tubular member. 
     
     
         50 . Device according to  claim 48 , wherein a plurality of said contacting members are controlled by corresponding actuators for individually and selectively move each said contacting member toward said side wall of the tubular member, said actuators being controlled by a signal generated by the corresponding sensor. 
     
     
         51 . Device according to  claim 50 , wherein each contacting member is controlled to move towards said tubular member when the corresponding sensor detects the edge of the knitted tubular article. 
     
     
         52 . Device according to  claim 46 , wherein a plurality of said contacting members include pressure pads. 
     
     
         53 . Device according to  claim 46 , wherein each said contacting member is supported by a corresponding oscillating lever. 
     
     
         54 . Device according to  claim 46 , wherein a plurality of said contacting members are supported by a common supporting member, said supporting member being movable under the control of an actuator in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the tubular member. 
     
     
         55 . A method for aligning the edge of a knitted tubular article, including the following steps:
 providing a tubular member with an axis, a front end and a side wall;   arranging a plurality of contacting members around the axis of said tubular member;   placing said knitted tubular article on a tubular member, with a first portion of said edge on the front end of said tubular member and a second portion of said edge on the side wall of the tubular member;   moving said contacting members towards said tubular member in a direction substantially parallel to said axis;   selectively contacting said knitted tubular article with said contacting members;   bringing the edge of said knitted tubular article approximately in alignment on a plane substantially orthogonal to said axis by causing said tubular article to slip along the side wall of said tubular member.   
     
     
         56 . Method according to  claim 55 , wherein said contacting members are selectively moved towards said tubular member while moving along said direction substantially parallel to the axis of said tubular member. 
     
     
         57 . A device for aligning an edge of a knitted tubular article, including a tubular member for receiving said knitted tubular article; an operative head, arranged in front of said front end of said tubular member and movable towards said tubular member; a plurality of contacting members on said operative head, movable towards a side wall of the tubular member. 
     
     
         58 - 59 . (canceled)