US3453028A - Hosiery collecting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

July 1, 1969 c. A. FOREMAN IHOSIERY COLLECTING APPARATUS Filed May 5. 1967 Sheet All INVENTOR CALEY A. FOREMAN BY ham ArToRrueYs FIG. 3

July 1, 1969 c, FOREMAN 3,453,028

HOSIEJRY COLLECTING APPARATUS Filed May :5, 1967 Sheet 3 of 5 INVENTOR QALEY A.FOREMAN' ATTORNEYS Sheet Filed May 5, 1967 will}... i m

n C| fl N A Rm s R "1, & mo a N M M MA & m M m\ IPL. o m a P Y. mm B Hwm hum mm J 3J WLFQI u x I S United States Patent US. Cl. 30227 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The apparatus disclosed herein is adapted to be utilized with a plurality of knitting machines, particularly circular knitting machines, and to periodically, under control of an operator, discharge the hosiery knit by all machines of a selected group onto a table from which it is taken individually for inspection. At the same time that the group of machines is selected and the hosiery therefrom conveyed to the inspection station, a particular tray associated with the group of machines selected is positioned in front of the operator or inspector, so that after inspection each tray will have stacked upon it accepted hosiery of a specific style and size, i.e., corresponding to the knitting machines of the selected group. For storage purposes a second group of trays may be provided and positioned simultaneously with the trays of the first group, the collector means then being arranged to discharge upon a selected tray of the storage group. Arrangements are provided so that the machines may be grouped in any desired manner, irrespective of their physical location, thus enabling an operator by the operation of a single pushbutton or switch to cause all hosiery accumulated in a number of knitting machines, knitting for example, the same size and style of hosiery, to be discharged substantially simultaneously and permitting the assignment of knitting machines to sizes and styles in accordance with the Workload.

The invention thus pertains to knitting and more particularly to the collection of hosiery from a large number of knitting machines in groups according to a particular classification, and to means providing trays on which to deposit the classified items before or after inspection, or both.

Heretofore, hosiery has been deposited in receptacles at the individual knitting machine and has been collected by messenger girls and taken to an inspection station, the hosiery collected from the machines being sorted ordinarily by the messenger girls or sometimes by the inspector, and after inspection being deposited on one of a number 'of trays which were located on tables surrounding the inspection position, the trays being periodically removed and taken by messengers or at times by conveyor belt to the next operation.

It has been proposed prior to my invention, to provide a collection system in which an air conveyor system was provided and each individual hosiery machine had a gate valve which caused hosiery accumulated at that machine to be discharged into the airstream and taken to an inspection station.

While this arrangement was an improvement upon the messenger system, it required the inspector or other operator to operate the selection switches in accordance with a chart indicating the size and style which each machine was then knitting, and the operation of the individual valve means sequentially if sorting of the hosiery into styles and sizes was to occur. Usually, even when the hosiery had been thus properly discharged by operation of the individual switches, there was no place available to stack the inspected hose except trays arranged on tables about the inspection position, and thus the inspector-operator had to select from the individual trays, which made the operation always subject to human error.

As is obvious from the above, this invention eliminates or at least minimizes human error and assures that the hosiery will be delivered to the inspection station in proper groups and will be stacked on trays individual to the groups. As will also be obvious, the grouping does not have to be performed during each series of operations, but is performed by inserting plugs into jacks whenever machines are reassigned, and the grouping thus changed. Furthermore, the grouping is readily done by a plant maintenance or production worker who is familiar with and capable of doing this operation with a minimum of error.

To summarize, the invention comprises apparatus for collecting hosiery from machines which are arranged in groups in accordance with the work which they are then performing, so that hosiery is sorted as to certain characteristics thereof, such as style and size, and discharged at an inspection station and is thereafter, subsequent to in spection of each stocking, deposited in a tray which is automatically presented to the inspector at the time a group of machines is selected to discharge at the inspection station. Thus, human error which is necessarily present when the older systems of use of messengers to convey the hosiery from the individual machines to the inspection station or the discharge of hosiery automatically from individual machines at the inspection station employed, is minimized.

Various features and details of the invention described herein will be apparent when the following description is considered in connection with the annexed drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view showing the installation of conduits and air supplies for conveying hosiery from knitting machines to a central selection station;

FIGURE 2 is a front-elev-ational view showing a control console at the inspection station, which console includes a container into which hosiery is discharged, various control switches, and a form on which the hose is placed for inspection;

FIGURE 3 is a front-elevational view of the tray-selection mechanism;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the trayselecting mechanism of FIGURE 3, taken on the plane of the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the tray mechanism supporting frame and drive chains, showing particularly switches for controlling stopping of the chains mounted on frame members and the mounting of actuators for these switches on the drive chains, and

FIGURE 6 is a schematic wiring diagram of the circuits controlling the discharge of hose and the positioning of the selector tray or trays.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG- URE 1 thereof, there is indicated by the dotted lines designated 10, a conventional circular knitting machine, it being understood that this showing is representative of one of many knitting machines. Finished hosiery from this machine shown are discharged by conventional means indicated at 11 and including a source of air pressure 12, into a receptacle 13. When the hose was manually collected the receptacle 13 was normally a box-like member from which the hosiery was removed by hand and taken to the inspection station, whether that station was located centrally or was located in the aisle between the machines as was frequently the case.

In the present instance the receptacle 13 is preferably a tube and also preferably of plastic or other transparent material. Thus stockings as knitted are deposited in the receptacle 13. Connected to receptacle 13 at the bottom thereof is a pipe 14 which extends upwardly and discharges into a horizontal pipe 15. It will be understood that the pipe 15 extends above a bank of knitting machines and that a number of pipes 14 enter into the pipe 15 in the manner just above described. It will also be understood that there will be as many pipes 15 as are required for the number of knitting machines considered. Each pipe 15 is connected at one end by flexible tubing 16 to a blower 17, which blower is constantly operating and thus blowing air through the pipe 15. At their opposite ends the pipes 15 merge and extend downwardly as shown at 18, to discharge into a receptacle 20, which is located on and forms a part of a control console 21.

Attached at the lowermost point of the pipe 14 is a compresed air supply tube 22 which is supplied with air through a valve 23 controlled by a solenoid 24. As will be obvious, when the solenoid 24 is operated and valve 23 opened, compressed air is admitted to the pipe 14 and causes the accumulated hosiery in the receptacle or tube 13 to be blown through the pipe 14 and discharged into the pipe 15. The stream of air moving in pipe 15, due to the operation of blower 17, then causes the hosiery to move through the pipes 15 and their downward extensions 18 and to drop into the receptacle 20.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that the console or cabinet 21 has fixed thereto the receptacle which has discharge openings 25 across which extend bars 26 which are mounted for vertical sliding movement in the brackets 27. Thus hose deposited in the receptacle may readily be removed but are not discharged until removal is manually effected. Mounted on the front of the cabinet 21 by means of the bracket 28 is an inspection form 30. the mounting indicated at 31 being such as to provide rotary movement of the form 30. At each end of the cabinet 21 is a panel 33 which in the present instance has mounted thereon a series of twenty-five toggle switches 34 and a like series of indicating lights 35. As will appear later, each toggle switch 34 and indicator light 35 is associated with the solenoid valve of one of fifty knitting machines, it being understood that the number of machines is purely arbitrary and that the system may provide for a. greater or lesser number as is desirable.

Also mounted on the front of the cabinet 21 is a series of ten switches 36 which as will appear are arranged to control the operation of a selected group of solenoids 24. Fixed to the right-hand one of the two panel boards 33 or mounted in any other suitable location, is a jack panel 37 which in the present instance is provided with a series of two hundred jacks 38 which in the present instance are arranged in ten groups of twenty jacks each, each group being associated with one of the switches 36.

Mounted in suitable position adjacent the jack panel 37 are plug cords 40, equal in number to the number of knitting machines controlled, the cords being connected individually to individual ones of the toggle switches 34.

The tray-selecting mechanism previously mentioned is best shown in FIGURES 3, 4, and 5, and is mounted in the cabinet 21 in such manner that the selected tray is accessible through the opening 29 in the cabinet 21. The tray-selecting mechanism comprises the two shafts 41 and 42, which are, as shown, suitably journaled in frame members of the cabinet 21, such as 43 and 44. Mounted on each of the shafts 41 and 42 is a pair of sprocket wheels designated respectively 45 and 46. Endless chains 47 and 48 extend around these sprocket wheels. The wheels and chains are driven through the medium of a motor 50, chain 51 and sprocket 52 fixed on the shaft 41.

At spaced intervals triangular brackets 53 are rigidly fixed to links of the chains 47 and 48 (see FIGS. 4 and 5 Fixed in the outer end of each bracket 53 is a pin 54 on which an arm 55 is pivotally mounted, :being spaced from the bracket 53 by a spacer 56, the arm being held in position by means of a collar 57 and C-clip 58.

At the lower end of each arm 55 an angle member 60 is mounted, the angles facing inwardly and forming supports for rectangular trays 61, the trays being provided with pins 62 at the edges of the bottom thereof, which pins are adapted to enter holes in the angles 60. Due to the pivotal mounting of the arms 55, the trays 61 are maintained in horizontal position during the rotation of the sprocket wheels and corresponding movement of the drive chains.

Mounted on the chain 47 and spaced at intervals corresponding to the spacing of the brackets 53, are switch actuator support bars 63, the mounting being such that the bars are rigidly fixed to the chain and extend inwardly. Each of the bars 63 is provided with ten actuator mounting positions which may, for example, be threaded openings in which actuator pins such as those shown at 64 (FIG. 5) may be threaded and locked into position. As will shortly appear, pins 64 cooperate with and actuate microswitches which are effective to de-cnergize the motor and to thus stop the chains with a particular one of the trays 61 located for access through the opening 29.

Mounted on a horizontally extending frame member 65 of the cabinet 21 is an angle bar 67 on which is mounted in turn a second angle bar 68 which carries the brackets 70 supporting a group of ten microswitches 71.

Mounted on a frame member 72 of the cabinet 21 is a plate 73 which has fixed thereto two bar-s 74 and 75; the bar 74 bears against the inner end of the actuator bars 63 and holds them in position so that the pins 64 engage the actuator arms 76 of the microswitches 71. Arm 75 serves to assure that the ends of the arms 63 will not engage the teeth of the sprocket wheel 45 as the chain rotates, and is provided merely as a precautionary measure for this purpose.

Microswitches 71 are normally closed and are caused to move to circuit-opening position when a pin 64 engages with the corresponding microswitch actuator 76. The microswitches are ten in number and each is connected, as will shortly appear, in the holding circuit of one of ten relays.

The operation of the mechanism will now be described, referring particularly to the schematic wiring diagram, FIGURE 6. Alternating current power is connected by means of a switch 80 to the primary winding 81 of a transformer, the secondary winding 82 of which is connected to a bridge rectifier 84, the DC. output of which is connected to the relays, signal lamps, solenoids, etc.

In the particular instance, there are ten relays designated 39 which are associated respectively with the ten switches 36. Each relay 39 is provided with three pairs of contacts a, b, and 0. Contacts 0 of all relays 39 are connected in parallel in the circuit to motor 40, so that when any one of the relays is operated, the motor is energized from the alternating current source. The b contacts of each relay 36 are connected one to one side of the DC. source and the other to a group of 20 of the jacks 38. The a contacts of each of the relays 39 are connected on one side through a corresponding one of the microswitches 71 to one side of the DC source and on the other side to one side of the winding of the relay.

From the above it will be apparent that when the device is placed in use, switch 80 is first closed; next, the operator operates a selected one of the pushbutton switches 36, the switches being connected from one side of the" line to the winding of the corresponding relay 39, and then returning to the opposite side of the line. As soon as a relay 39 is operated and its contacts closed, the motor starts to operate and at the same time, assuming that all of the toggle switches 34 are in their left-hand positions, a group of solenoids 24, the plug cords 40 of which have been inserted in jacks 38, is also energized, thereby causing stockings to be discharged from the selected machines (or more exactly, from the receptacles 13 associated with those knitting machines) into the pipes 14, 15, and to drop into the receptacle 20. The motor continues to operate until the microswitch 71 associated with that operated relay is actuated by means of one of the pins 64, whereupon switch 71, which has been closed and which has maintained a holding circuit through the winding of relay 39, is opened, causing the relay to de-energize and the motor circuit to be broken. This of course stops the motor in a position with the tray corresponding at that time to the group of machines from which hose has been discharged into the container, in position behind the opening 29. The operator may then take the hose one by one from the container 20, inspect it on the inspection form, and place hosiery which passes inspection on the tray 61 associated with that group of machines.

Toggle switches 34 make it possible to cause accumulated stockings from individual machines to be discharged into the receptacle 20, as is readily seen by referring to FIGURE 6. Any toggle switch which is operated to close the right-hand contact as seen in FIGURE 6 will cause energization of the corresponding machine solenoid 24 due to the completion of a circuit from one side of the DC. source 84 through the toggle switch and solenoid to the opposite side of the source. Thus if stockings are being received in the container 20 which upon inspection prove to be faulty, the operator may be successively throwing the toggle switches associated with the individual machines of the group from which faulty hose has been received, isolate the faulty machine. Means are provided on the cabinet or console which means comprise pushbutton switches 80, one for each knitting machine, which in the usual manner serve to energize the knitting machine stop motion drive and throw the machine out of service until it has been repaired.

As has been indicated hereinbefore, it is contemplated that two tray selecting mechanisms may be utilized, one set of trays then being assigned for stacking of hose after inspection, and the other set being synchronized with the first set and utilized for storing hose to be inspected as they are received from the knitting machines. In this case the receiving hopper or container 20 is not utilized, but instead, the drive chains are made to have a short horizontal run by use of an idler sprocket or the like, and hosiery is discharged directly from the pipes 18 into a tray such as 61 from which it is taken for inspection and placed on another tray in the second group which is assigned to the stacking of hose after inspection. The two tray-selecting mechanisms are substantially identical and are operated in synchronism, for example, by having the shaft of one of the sprockets 45 extended and having mounted thereon sprockets substantially identical with sprocket 45, which in the same manner as shown in FIGURE 4, drive chains 48 which pass over upper idler sprockets in the same manner as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus trays 61 of the two groups move in synchronism so that a storage tray and the corresponding stacking tray will simultaneously be available. If desired, switches may be installed in the circuit to the b contacts of all relays 39 so that when the storage trays have been utilized as such rather than merely as receiving containers, the trays may be successively operated into position where they are available to the operator, without causing discharge of additional hosiery from the machines of the associated group. In this way the inspector can clear the storage trays, after which the switches mentioned are again closed and the device utilized purely for receiving hose and presenting receiving trays and stacking trays simultaneously to the operator.

It will be clear from the above that hosiery which is not up-to-standard and which is rejected is laid aside at the inspection position, while hosiery which is acceptable is stacked in trays according to size and style, in a sorted condition ready for the next following operation.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that many variations thereof are possible. I wish therefore to be limited not by the foregoing description, but on the contrary, solely by the claims granted to me.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for selecting a group of knitting machines from a plurality thereof and delivering hosiery from said selected group to a central station comprising, in combination, a receptacle at each machine for receiving hosiery knitted thereby, pneumatic conveying means for conveying hosiery from said receptacles to said central station, said central station being an inspection station, a group of hosiery receiving trays at said central station, each tray being adapted to receive a group of hosiery after inspection, endless chains mounting said group of receiving trays, one tray of the group being in hosiery receiving position at each of a plurality of position-s of said chains, motor means driving said chains, means at each machine for discharging hosiery accumulated in the machine receptacle into said conveying means, control means at said central station for operating said discharging means of a group of knitting machines simultaneously to thereby convey to said central station hosiery knitted by a predetermined group of machines, and means operated by said control means for energizing said motor and maintaining it energized until the tray assigned to a group of hose discharged arrives at said receiving station.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises a group of electrical switches and a corresponding group of electrical relays, each said relay when energized causing energization of said motor, and wherein a group of switches equal in number to the number of said relays is mounted adjacent one of said drive chains and said drive chain has spaced thereon at spacings corresponding to the spacing of said trays switch actuators one for each of said group of switches, each said actuator causing the corresponding switch to open and said motor tone-energize when the corresponding tray is in said rece1v1ng position.

3. Apparatus for selecting a group of knitting machines from a plurality thereof and delivering hosiery from said selected group to a central station comprising, in combination, a receptacle at each machine for receiving hosiery knitted thereby, pneumatic conveying means for conveying hosiery from said receptacles to said central station, a solenoid and a valve controlled by said solenoid at each knitting machine to admit air under pressure into said pneumatic conveyor means adjacent its point of connection to the corresponding machine receptacle to thereby draw hosiery from said receptacle into said pneumatic conveyor means, a cord plug connected to each of said solenoids, control means at said central station for operating the solenoids of a group of knitting machines simultaneously to open the corresponding valve to convey to said central station hosiery knitted by a group of knitting machines, said control means comprising a plurality of electrical switches, a plurality of relays equal in number to the number of electrical switches, and a plurality of jacks connected to each said relay, each said cord plug being insertable in any one of said jacks to thereby determine the grouping of knitting machine receptacles from which hosiery is discharged, a group of hosiery receiving trays, each tray corresponding to one of said electrical switches and associated relay, mean-s comprising a pair of endless chains mounting said hosiery trays, a motor for driving said chains, means for energizing said motor to drive said chains when any one of said relays is operated, and means operative when a tray corresponding to said operated switch reaches a hosiery receiving position for de-energizing said operated relay.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said relay de-energizing means comprises a group of switches fixedly mounted adjacent one of said chains and a plurality of switch actuators equal in number to said plurality of relays on said chains, each in position corresponding to one of said trays of said group, said actuators opening said switch to de-energize the corresponding relay and stop said motor when a tray of a group corresponding to the group of knitting machines selected by one of said plurality of switches moves to hosiery receiving position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,994,561 8/ 1961 Kelley 30227 3,129,573 4/1964 Sampson et al 302-27 3,207,559 9/1965 Poteat et a1 30227 FOREIGN PATENTS 958,542 5/ 1964 Great Britain.

10 ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Primary Examiner.

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