Device for handling tubular knitted articles, in particular socks and the like

Abstract

The device comprises: a tubular member ( 15 ) with an inlet end and an outlet end ( 15 A), associated with suction means and inside which a tubular article (T) is sucked towards the outlet end; a moving pick-up element ( 21, 23 ) to engage a first end (P) of the tubular article (T) and remove it from the tubular member, said pick-up element which can be moved towards the outlet end; a shaped block ( 43 ), cooperating with the inner wall of the tubular member ( 15 ), to define a constriction with variable conformation at the outlet end of the tubular member. The constriction is suitable to define a narrow and elongated section of passage of the tubular article, in which said tubular article is forced to take a spread arrangement at least at the second end.

1 . A device to flatten or spread at least one portion of a tubular article, in particular stockings and socks, the device comprising:
 a tubular member, inside which said tubular article can be at least partially inserted;   a moving shaped block to modify the cross section of said tubular member, said moving block being controlled to take at least a first position of maximum aperture of the cross section of the tubular member, and a second position of maximum constriction of the cross section of said tubular member, said second position defining a cross section elongated in a direction transverse with respect to the direction of movement of said tubular article in said tubular member.   
   
   
       2 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said tubular member has a first end and a second end;   said tubular member is associated with suction means to suck said tubular article inside said tubular member;   a moving pickup element is arranged to engage a first end portion of the tubular article and remove it from said tubular member, said pick-up element being associated with said second end of the tubular member;   said shaped block cooperates with the inner wall of the tubular member, to define a constriction with variable conformation at the second end of the tubular member, said constriction defining a narrow and elongated section of passage of the tubular article, in which said tubular article is forced to take a spread arrangement at least at the level of a second end portion thereof;   said pick-up member can move towards or away from said second end of the tubular member respectively;   said suction means and said tubular member are arranged and produced so that the tubular article enters said tubular member through said first end and said tubular article exits from said tubular member through said second end; and   said suction means are designed and arranged to generate suction in the two directions inside said tubular member.   
   
   
       3 - 5 . (canceled) 
   
   
       6 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said shaped block has a portion of surface opposite a portion of the inner surface of said tubular member and substantially parallel thereto, to define a constriction with a cross section having an arched development. 
   
   
       7 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a suction mouth which can move towards the second end of the tubular member and through which a flow of air is generated in said tubular member which flows from the first end to the second end of the tubular member, wherein an interception element is inserted in said suction mouth to prevent the tubular articles from entering said suction mouth and which forms a stop for the tubular articles drawn by said flow of air, said interception element being a grid or a mesh, said suction mouth and said pick-up element being movable as one unit to move towards or away from the second end of said tubular member, wherein an actuator to control the pick-up element is supported integral with said suction mouth and is movable therewith. 
   
   
       8 - 11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . Device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said pick-up element, said shaped block and said suction mouth are arranged and produced so that when the suction mouth is moved towards said first end of the tubular member, the pick-up element is interposed between the shaped block and said suction mouth. 
   
   
       13 . Device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said suction mouth cooperates with a gasket extending at least partially around said second end of the tubular member. 
   
   
       14 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said shaped block is provided with a movement according to a direction inclined with respect to the axis of the tubular member to move towards and away from a portion of the inner surface of said tubular member. 
   
   
       15 . Device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said pick-up element comprises a mechanical gripper. 
   
   
       16 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said pick-up element comprises a slider which slides inside a seat produced on the surface of said shaped block facing the pick-up element. 
   
   
       17 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a stretching device, arranged and controlled to engage an end portion in the spread arrangement of the tubular article when the latter has been almost fully removed from the tubular member, and to open out said end portion, wherein said stretching device comprises two members to engage two opposite sides of said end portion of the tubular article, provided with a reciprocal movement towards and away from each other, and with a movement of alignment with respect to the tubular member and of movement away therefrom. 
   
   
       18 . (canceled) 
   
   
       19 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said suction means, said tubular member and said pick-up element are controlled and arranged to partially insert a tubular article into said tubular member through the second aperture of said tubular member, and to remove it therefrom, said shaped block being arranged in a position of maximum aperture of the second end of the tubular member when said article is inserted partially into said tubular member and in a position of maximum constriction of the cross section of passage of the tubular article, when it is removed once more from the tubular member. 
   
   
       20 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising two tubular members to spread two end portions of the tubular articles. 
   
   
       21 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a suction system is associated with said tubular member, to at least partially insert the tubular article into the tubular member by suction, said suction system being reversible, to generate inside said tubular member a flow of air alternatively in one direction or in the opposite direction. 
   
   
       22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a pick-up element is associated with said tubular member to engage said article and move it with respect to said tubular member. 
   
   
       24 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an interception element is associated with said tubular member, to block a tubular article sucked through said tubular member. 
   
   
       25 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising two tubular members to spread two end portions of the tubular articles. 
   
   
       26 . A method for spreading or flattening at least a portion of a tubular knitted article, the method including the steps of:
 at least partially inserting said tubular article into a tubular member;   when said tubular article is at least partly inserted in said tubular member, narrowing a cross section of passage for said tubular article in said tubular member;   moving said tubular article in said tubular member in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension of said tubular member through said narrowed cross section, said cross section extending in a direction transverse to the direction of feed of said tubular article through said tubular member.   
   
   
       27 . Method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein said tubular article has a toe end and a elastic edge; including the following steps:
 arranging the tubular article inside said tubular member, with a toe oriented towards an outlet end of the tubular member;   producing in said tubular member, in proximity to said outlet end, said narrowed and elongated section of passage;   removing the tubular article from the tubular member spreading the elastic edge of said article by making it pass through said narrowed and elongated section.   
   
   
       28 . Method as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said narrowed and elongated cross section is constricted when the article has been almost completely removed from the tubular member, to block and engage said tubular article at two opposite sides of the elastic edge. 
   
   
       29 . Method as claimed in  claim 27 , further comprising the steps of:
 sucking the tubular knitted article to take the toe thereof approximately to the outlet end of the tubular member;   engaging the toe of the tubular knitted article;   gradually removing the tubular knitted article from the tubular member, maintaining it in tension by suction from the outlet end towards the inside of the tubular member.   
   
   
       30 . Method as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein when the elastic edge of the tubular knitted article has been approximately completely removed from the tubular member, said edge is blocked at the outlet end of the tubular article. 
   
   
       31 . Method as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the elastic edge of the tubular knitted article is engaged by stretching members after it has been at least partially removed from the tubular member. 
   
   
       32 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein:
 said tubular article is sucked inside said tubular member;   a first end of said tubular article is engaged by a pick-up element; and   said pick-up element is moved away from the tubular member pulling the tubular article through said narrow and elongated cross section of passage.   
   
   
       33 . Device as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said suction means and said tubular member are arranged and produced so that the tubular article enters said tubular member through said first end and said tubular article exits from said tubular member through said second end. 
   
   
       34 . Device as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said suction means are designed and arranged to generate suction in the two directions inside said tubular member.