Apparatus adapted for use in the toe closing of hosiery

Claim 2

Apparatus for use in hosiery toe closing, comprising: a. seaming means for closing a toe end portion of a hosiery blank; b. clamp means to present said toe end portion to said seaming means, said clamp means including a stationary plate and a movable clamp member co-operable therewith to clamp said toe end portion between said clamp member and said plate; c. a carrier leg arranged to have drawn thereonto the hosiery blank; d. means for drawing the hosiery blank onto said carrier leg; e. said carrier leg including advancing means movable along said carrier leg and operable to advance the toe end portion of a hosiery blank drawn onto said carrier leg between said clamp member and said plate, said advancing means being retractable from said toe end portion subsequent to toe-clamping by said clamp means; f. reverser means alongside said carrier leg for reversing the hosiery blank after toe-seaming; and g. transfer means operable to transfer a welt end portion of said hosiery blank from carrier leg to said reverser means, said transfer means comprising a pair of structures relatively movable between a closed position in which they enter the welt end portion and an open position in which they open the welt end portion for presentation to said reverser means.

Claim 3

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means to assist in drawing the hosiery blank onto the carrier leg comprises a rotatably powered wheel adapted frictionally to engage the hosiery blank on the carrier.

Claim 4

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 comprising an arm for supporting the wheel for movement between an inoperative position in which it permits the hosiery blank to be drawn onto the end of the carrier leg, and an operative position in which it engages the hosiery blank to draw it further onto the carrier leg, the arm also comprising means to transmit power to the wheel.

Claim 5

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the advancing means comprises a pair of blades disposed side by side along said carrier leg and means for adjusting the spacing of the blades.

Claim 6

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the carrier leg comprises means for untwisting the hosiery blank before it is drawn onto the carrier leg.

Claim 7

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 the clamp means comprising means to move the clamped toe end portion along a predetermined seam contour past the seaming means.

Claim 8

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the clamp members comprises a movable plate having a resilient surface facing towards the fixed plate, and means urging the movable plate towards the fixed plate.

Claim 9

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said advancing means includes means to convey the weld end portion forward to a position adjacent the advanced toe end portion, the transfer means being adapted to enter the so-positioned weld end portion.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reverser means comprises a tube and means for producing a reduced air pressure therein whereby to suck the toe end portion of the hosiery blank into the tube.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the reverser means comprises a means to draw the closed toe end portion against the end of the tube.

Claim 12

Apparatus for use in hosiery toe closing, comprising: a. seaming means for closing a toe end portion of a hosiery blank; b. clamp means to present said toe end portion to said seaming means, said clamp means including a stationary plate and a movable clamp member co-operable therewith to clamp said toe end portion between said clamp member and said plate; c. a carrier leg arranged to have drawn thereonto the hosiery blank; d. means for drawing the hosiery blank onto said carrier leg, said drawing means including a drive wheel, an arm mounting said wheel for movement from an inoperative to an operative position in which latter position said wheel is frictionally engageable with said hosiery blank on said carrier leg, said arm including means to transmit power to said wheel whereby said wheel is rotated in contact with said hosiery blank to draw the blank onto said carrier leg; e. said carrier leg including advancing means movable along said carrier leg and operable to advance the toe end portion of a hosiery blank drawn onto said carrier leg between said clamp member and said plate, said advancing means being retractable from said toe end portion subsequent to toe-clamping by said clamp means; f. reverser means alongside said carrier leg for reversing the hosiery blank after toe-seaming; and g. transfer means operable to transfer a welt end portion of said hosiery blank from said carrier leg to said reverser means, said transfer means comprising a pair of structures relatively movable between a closed position in which they enter the welt end portion and an open position in which they open the welt end portion for presentation to said reverser means.

Claim 13

Apparatus for use in hosiery toe closing, comprising: a. seaming means for closing a toe end portion of a hosiery blank; b. clamp means to present said toe end portion to said seaming means, said clamp means including a stationary plate and a movable clamp member co-operable therewith to clamp said toe end portion between said clamp member and said plate; c. a carrier leg arranged to have drawn thereonto the hosiery blank; d. means for drawing the hosiery blank onto said carrier leg, said drawing means including a drive wheel, an arm mounting said wheel for movement from an inoperative to an operative position in which latter position said wheel is frictionally engageable with said hosiery blank on said carrier leg, said arm including means to transmit power to said wheel whereby said wheel is rotated in contact with said hosiery blank to draw the blank onto said carrier leg; e. said carrier leg including advancing means movable along said carrier leg and operable to advance the toe end portion of a hosiery blank drawn onto said carrier leg between said clamp member and said plate, said advancing means being retractable from said toe end portion subsequent to toe-clamping by said clamp means; f. reverser means alongside said carrier leg for reversing the hosiery blank after toe-seaming; and g. transfer means operable to transfer a welt end portion of said hosiery blank from said carrier leg to said reverser means, said transfer means comprising a pair of structures relatively movable between a closed position in which they enter the welt end portion and an open position in which they open the welt end portion for presentation to said reverser means.