Method and apparatus for automatically packaging stockings
AssigneeTakatori Machinery Works, Ltd.
InventorMasao Nishikawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fully automatic system for folding stockings or a like long, substantially flat, non-rigid article around a cardboard insert, including foldable insert, and enclosing the stockings with the insert in an envelope of transparent, thermoplastic material. A great deal of saving of manual labor enables ideal streamlining of the whole process for manufacturing stockings for remarkable reduction in manufacturing cost. Sealing of the envelope containing the stockings with gummed tapes may be performed fully automatically, also.
Claims12
A method for automatically packaging stockings using an apparatus having a setting station arranged adjacent one side of an operation table and an enclosing station arranged on said operation table at a position downstream to and substantially coplanar with said setting station, said method comprising the steps of receiving at said setting station a pair of stockings on a horizontal transfer plate of a transfer assembly arranged on said operation table and provided with a transfer gripping plate;
- delivering an insert from a supply thereof using an insert feeding assembly arranged on said operation table facing said setting station and feeding same onto said stockings at a position overlying said transfer plate;
- provisionally fixing at said setting station the position of said stockings and insert relative to said transfer plate using an insert gripping plate of an insert gripping assembly arranged adjacent to said transfer assembly;
- concurrently folding waist and toe end sections of said stockings around said insert being gripped by said insert gripping plate using a stockings folding assembly arranged on said operation table facing said setting station;
- feeding an envelope to said enclosing station using an envelope feeding assembly arranged on said operation table;
- transferring said stocking with said insert to a conveyor assembly by horizontally reciprocating said transfer assembly between said setting station and the upstream terminal of said conveyor assembly;
- conveying said stockings folded around said insert towards said enclosing station using said conveyor assembly arranged on said operation table and provided with a conveyor gripping plate;
- enclosing said stockings with said insert in said envelope using a stockings enclosing assembly arranged on said operation table facing said enclosing station and provided with an encloser for gripping said stockings folded around said insert;
- said step of transferring said stockings with said insert to said conveyor assembly is accomplished by said transfer gripping plate taking over the gripping of said stockings and insert from said insert gripping plate and said conveyor gripping plate taking over the gripping of said stockings and insert from said transfer gripping plate;
- and conveying said stockings and said insert to said stocking enclosing assembly by said encloser taking over the gripping of said stockings and insert from said conveyor gripping plate so that said stockings and insert are continuously gripped while being transferred from said setting station to said enclosing station.
A two station apparatus for automatically packaging stockings comprising an operation table;
- a setting station arranged on said operation table adjacent one side thereof;
- an enclosing station arranged on said operation table at a position downstream to and substantially coplanar with said setting station;
- a transfer assembly arranged on said operation table and provided with a transfer gripping plate and a horizontal transfer plate, said transfer plate for receiving a pair of stockings thereon at said setting station;
- an insert feeding assembly arranged on said operation table facing said setting station for delivering an insert from a supply thereof and feeding same onto said stockings at a position overlying said transfer plate;
- an insert gripping assembly arranged adjacent to said transfer assembly and provided with an insert gripping plate for provisionally fixing the position of said stockings and insert relative to said transfer plate while positioned at said setting station;
- a stockings folding assembly arranged on said operation table facing said setting station for concurrently folding waist and toe end sections of said stockings around said insert being gripped by said insert gripping plate;
- an envelope feeding assembly arranged on said operation table for feeding an envelope to said enclosing station;
- a conveyor assembly arranged on said operation table and provided with a conveyor gripping plate, said conveyor assembly having means for conveying said stockings folded around said insert towards said enclosing station;
- a stockings enclosing assembly arranged on said operation table facing said enclosing station and provided with an encloser for gripping said stockings folded around said insert, said stockings enclosing assembly having means for enclosing said stockings with said insert in said envelope;
- and means for horizontally reciprocating said transfer assembly between said setting station and the upstream terminal of said conveyor assembly for transferring said stockings with said insert to said conveyor assembly by said transfer gripping plate taking over the gripping of said stockings and insert from said insert gripping plate and said conveyor gripping plate taking over the gripping of said stockings and insert from said transfer gripping plate, said conveying assembly conveying said stockings and said insert to said stocking enclosing assembly by said encloser taking over the gripping of said stockings and insert from said conveyor gripping plate so that said stockings and insert are continuously gripped while being transferred from said setting station to said enclosing station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.