Hosiery boarding machine and method

A machine for boarding hosiery, unloading the hosiery onto a first conveyor, stacking the hosiery onto a second conveyor, and trimming loose yarn ends extending from within the hosiery, said boarding machine comprising:

• (a) a rotatable form for boarding hosiery, said boarding form configured to shape the hosiery for packaging, said boarding form extending lengthwise in a horizontal plane;
• (b) means for driving said horizontal boarding form, said driving means joined to said horizontal boarding form;
• (c) a hub, said boarding form attached to said hub, said boarding form rotatable in a horizontal plane about said hub;
• (d) a microprocessor, said microprocessor connected to said driving means;
• (e) means for heat setting the boarded hosiery, said heat setting means positioned proximate said boarding form to apply heat thereto;
• (f) an unloader, said unloader positioned proximate said boarding form to unload hosiery from said boarding form, said unloader comprising a top roller and a bottom roller, said rotatable form positionable between said top and bottom rollers, said top and bottom rollers movable into contact with said rotatable form;
• (g) means for stacking hosiery, said stacking means positioned proximate the first conveyor, said stacking means comprising a vacuum plate, a cylinder rod and a rail, said vacuum plate slidably carried by said cylinder rod and said rail, said vacuum plate slidable along said cylinder rod to lift said hosiery from the first conveyor, said vacuum plate slidable along said rail to transfer the hosiery to the second conveyor;
• and
• (h) means for trimming excess yarn ends from the hosiery, said trimming means positioned proximate the second conveyor, said trimming means comprising a first stop gate, a second stop gate, a pressure foot, and a trimmer.