Automatic apparatus for superimposing, folding and transferring pairs of stockings to a collection station

An apparatus for pairing, folding and transferring to a collection station pairs of stockings or socks, said apparatus comprising:

• a movable elongated conveyor means, said conveyor means defining a turn;
• a plurality of gripper means mounted on said conveyor means;
• a pair of movable walls, one of said walls being positioned on either side of said conveyor means at said turn, each of said walls including a slot;
• first means for moving said walls towards and away from one another;
• a movable arm located at one side of said conveyor means, said arm having a distal end movable between a first position and a second position which traverses the path of said conveyor means;
• second means for moving said movable arm;
• pick up means carried by said distal end of said arm, said pick up means including a pick up element movable between a retracted position and an extended position in which said pick up element is able to pass through said slots of said walls as said arm moves between said first and second positions;
• third means for moving said pick up element;
• and
• means for opening and closing said gripper means;
• whereby stockings held by said gripper means are paired by said walls moving towards one another, and whereby the movement of said arm from said second position to said first position, while said pick up element is extended, draws said stockings through one of said slots so as to fold said stockings and transfer said paired and folded stockings to said collection station.