Device and method for handling tubular knitted articles, such as stockings and socks or the like

Abstract

Disclosed is a device for handling tubular knitted articles having a first end and a second end, comprising in combination: a first pick-up member and a second pick-up member ( 51 A, 51 B) for the tubular articles, which can be actuated alternatively to engage one end of the tubular articles; detection means to determine the orientation of the first and of the second end of the tubular article and a control unit. The two pick-up members are controlled to alternatively engage the tubular article according to the orientation of the tubular article detected by said detection means.

1 . A device for handling tubular knitted articles having a first end and a second end, the device comprising:
 a first pick-up member and a second pick-up member for said tubular articles, which can be actuated alternatively to engage one end of the tubular articles;   detection means to determine the orientation of the first and of the second end of the tubular article, said first pick-up member and second pickup member being controlled and actuated selectively according to the orientation of the tubular article detected by said detection means, to engage always the first end of the tubular article.   
   
   
       2 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said pick-up members are arranged and designed to engage each tubular article at the level of the first end of the tubular article. 
   
   
       3 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first end is an open band and said second end is a toe of the tubular knitted article, said tubular knitted article preferably being a sock or a stocking. 
   
   
       4 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate station, in which said tubular articles are positioned in a substantially spread position, with the first end and the second end approximately aligned with each other according to the longitudinal extension of the tubular article, said first and said second pick-up member being associated with said intermediate station, said detection means being arranged and designed to determine the orientation of the first and of the second end of the tubular article when it is in said intermediate station, said detection means being arranged and designed to detect whether said first end of the tubular article located in the intermediate station is positioned in proximity to the first pick-up member or of the second pick-up member and wherein said pick-up members are controlled so that the tubular article is engaged at its first end by the first or second pick-up member at the level of which said first end is positioned. 
   
   
       5 - 6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a spreading system to longitudinally spread said tubular articles and longitudinally align the first end and the second end of the article, said spreading system having two longitudinal ends, said spreading system comprising two stations, each of which includes a spreading element with a shaped section of passage, through which at least a portion of the tubular knitted article is made to pass to cause flattening thereof, each station further including a pulling member of the articles, each of said spreading elements being connected to a suction duct to pull the tubular article when it is fed through said shaped section of passage. 
   
   
       8 - 9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said pick-up members comprises at least a pair of fingers which can be inserted into the corresponding end of the tubular article. 
   
   
       11 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a common stretching device is associated with said two pick-up members, to stretch the end of the tubular article inside which said pick-up members are to be inserted, said common stretching device having a pair of opposed engaging members designed and controlled to engage and move away from each other opposed sides of textile material forming a corresponding end of the tubular article, to open said end, said common stretching device being arranged in an intermediate position between stand-by positions of said two pick-up members, said two pick-up members moving to transfer the tubular article to manipulator members, said manipulator members being designed and controlled to transfer each tubular article onto a transport tube, said further handling members are designed and arranged to position each tubular article on a tubular transport member, said handling members include a gripper which receives the tubular articles from one or other of said transfer devices. 
   
   
       12 - 15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a respective transfer device is associated with each pick-up member, arranged and designed to transfer a tubular article engaged by the respective pick-up member towards further handling members, each of said transfer devices including a stretching member designed and arranged to be inserted into the open end of the tubular article. 
   
   
       17 - 19 . (canceled) 
   
   
       20 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said detection means, include optical means, said detection means including at least one camera. 
   
   
       21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a conveyor which transfers the individual tubular articles from an area in which said articles are spread longitudinally, towards a station comprising said first pick-up member and said second pick-up member, wherein a common stretching device is positioned in said station comprising said first pick-up member and said second pick-up member, said detection means being arranged the path of said conveyor, wherein a translation device is associated with said detection means, which translates each tubular article orthogonally to the direction of feed of said conveyor, to move an end of each tubular article to said detection means, said conveyor being formed of a continuous member, moving in a direction substantially orthogonal to the orientation of said tubular articles. 
   
   
       23 - 26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . Method for handling tubular articles with a first end and second end, the method comprising the steps of:
 picking up a tubular article from a container, in which said articles are arranged randomly;   transferring said article to an operating position, with its ends approximately aligned according to a direction of longitudinal extension of the tubular article;   recognizing which of the two ends of said article is the first end;   after recognizing the first end, selectively engaging the tubular article at said first end and moving it away from said operating position.   
   
   
       28 . Method as claimed in  claim 27 , further comprising the steps of:
 arranging in said operating position a first pick-up member and a second pick-up member;   controlling said first pick-up member and said second pick-up member to actuate either said first pick-up member or second pick-up member, in proximity to which said first end of the tubular article is arranged, to engage said first end of the tubular article, wherein said first end is engaged and opened by a stretching device common to said first and second pick-up members and engaged selectively by one or other of said first and second pick-up members, according to the orientation of the first and of the second end, said tubular article being transferred from the pick-up member that engaged said first end onto further manipulator members.   
   
   
       29 . (canceled) 
   
   
       30 . Method as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein:
 the first end of the tubular article is engaged by a transfer device;   a first and a second transfer device are associated with said first and second pick-up member, wherein the tubular article is inserted with its first end facing forward over a tubular member, said first end of the tubular article being engaged and opened by the respective pick-up member.   
   
   
       31 - 32 . (canceled) 
   
   
       33 . Method as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said first end is engaged and opened by a stretching device. 
   
   
       34 - 35 . (canceled) 
   
   
       36 . Method as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said tubular article is spread longitudinally, said article being spread with the first and the second end approximately aligned longitudinally with each other and wherein when the article has been spread detection takes place to identify which of the two ends of the article is the first end, said first end is an open band and said second end is a toe of the tubular knitted article, said tubular knitted article being a sock or stocking. 
   
   
       37 - 38 . (canceled) 
   
   
       39 . A device for handling tubular knitted articles having a first end and a second end, the device comprising:
 an operating position;   associated with said operating position, a first pick-up member and a second pick-up member for said tubular articles, which can be actuated alternatively and selectively to always engage the first end of the tubular articles.   
   
   
       40 . Device as claimed in  claim 39 , further comprising:
 detection means to determine the orientation of the first and of the second end of the tubular article, said first pick-up member and said second pick-up member being controlled to engage the tubular article alternatively, according to the orientation of the tubular article detected by said detection means, so that each tubular article is engaged always at the first end notwithstanding its orientation in the operating position;   a control unit, programmed to receive information from said detection means and to control actuation of one or other of said first pick-up member and of said second pick-up member according to the information received from said detection means, said detection means being arranged and designed to determine the orientation of the tubular article when it is in said operating position.   
   
   
       41 - 42 . (canceled) 
   
   
       43 . Device as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein a common stretching device is associated with said first pick-up member and said second pick-up member, to stretch the end of the tubular article into which said pick-up members must be inserted, said common stretching device having a pair of opposed engaging members designed and controlled to engage and move way from each other opposed sides of textile material forming a corresponding end of the tubular article, to open said end, said common stretching device being arranged in an intermediate position between stand-by positions of said two pick-up members, said two pick-up members moving to transfer the tubular article to manipulator members, said manipulator members being produced and controlled to transfer each tubular article onto a transport tube, said pick-up members and/or said stretching device being oriented angularly to engage the first end of tubular articles in which said first end has an opening inclined variably with respect to a principal direction of longitudinal extension of the tubular article, said first pick-up member and said second pick-up member being controlled to be activated selectively and always engage the first of said ends of the tubular articles, notwithstanding the orientation of said tubular articles in said operating position. 
   
   
       44 - 49 . (canceled) 
   
   
       50 . Method for handling tubular articles with a first end and second end, the method comprising the steps of:
 arranging individual tubular articles sequentially in an operating position;   detecting which end is the first end;   engaging each tubular article selectively at said first end and moving it away from said operating position.   
   
   
       51 . Method as claimed in  claim 50 , further comprising the steps of:
 arranging in said first operating position a first pick-up member and a second pick-up member;   engaging each tubular article alternatively with said first pick-up member or with said second pick-up member according to the position of said first and second end.   
   
   
       52 . Method as claimed in  claim 51 , further comprising the steps of:
 recognizing the position of the first end of an article in the operating position; and   actuating one or other of said first and second pick-up members always to engage the first end of the tubular article, wherein said first end is opened with a common stretching device and is subsequently engaged selectively with said first or said second pick-up member.   
   
   
       53 . (canceled) 
   
   
       54 . Method as claimed in  claim 50 , wherein the pick-up member which engaged said first end transfers said tubular article to a further manipulator device. 
   
   
       55 . Device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said first end is an open band and said second end is a toe of the tubular knitted article, said tubular knitted article preferably being a sock or a stocking. 
   
   
       56 . Device as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising an intermediate station, in which said tubular articles are positioned in a substantially spread position, with the first end and the second end approximately aligned with each other according to the longitudinal extension of the tubular article, said first and said second pick-up member being associated with said intermediate station. 
   
   
       57 . Method as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the first end of the tubular article is engaged by a transfer device.