Garment toe closing system
AssigneeConsolidated Foods Corporation
InventorsGeorge D. Nakhle, Cecil R. Bell, Arthur R. Edwards, Willie M. Lathery, Navin D. Patel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for automatically closing the toe portions of tubular hosiery blanks includes an automatic loader assembly for receiving, supporting and spreading open an end portion of a hosiery blank, for transporting the blank to a toe closing machine, and for carrying the opened end of the blank over a loading tube of a toe closing machine while everting the blank.
Claims12
A method of closing an open portion of a tubular hosiery blank having a welt end and a toe end comprising the steps of;
- transferring a hosiery blank from a supply station to a hosiery blank loading station, supporting the welt end portion of the hosiery blank in a prescribed manner, spreading open the welt end portion of the blank, transferring the blank from the loading station to a suction tube of a hosiery blank holding unit, positioning the hosiery blank upon the suction tube, presenting the toe portion of the hosiery blank to sewing instrumentalities, and sewing closed the blank toe end.
In an apparatus for sequentally presenting tubular hosiery blanks having a welt end and a toe end to a toe closing machine having a support tube, support means, a hub assembly rotatable upon said support means, and a hosiery blank support unit secured to said hub assembly for displacement along an arcuate path, said support unit including means for gripping and expanding a hosiery blank welt end portion and means for selectively displacing the blank in a prescribed manner to position the blank upon a toe closing machine support tube.
In an automatic apparatus for seaming of tubular hosiery blanks having a welt portion at one end and a toe portion at the opposite end comprising a support assembly, a hub assembly rotatable upon said support assembly, hosiery blank support means secured to said hub assembly for rotary displacement, said support means including at least one arm means extending generally radially from said hub assembly, said arm means including vertically spaced, aligned, first and second fingers and means for retaining a hosiery blank welt portion upon said fingers, said support means further including means for expanding or collapsing said fingers, means for displacing said fingers in an expanded condition and having a hosiery blank thereon in a arcuate path, a displaceable tube for receiving the hosiery blank on the outer peripheral portions thereof, means for facilitating removal of the blank from said fingers, means for presenting the toe portions of the blanks supported upon said displacable tube to sewing instrumentalities for sewing closed the toe portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.