Package making – Methods – With contents treating
Patent
1990-04-20
1991-09-17
Coan, James F.
Package making
Methods
With contents treating
53117, 223 1, B65B 2520, B65B 6304
Patent
active
050482637
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a process and apparatus for folding sock cuffs; more particularly, the cuffs of "walk" socks; that is, knee length socks which are folded over in use just below the knee.
Socks, particularly of the type described above, are desirably packaged and sold with a cardboard insert therein and with the cuff folded over (often displaying a coloured pattern or design in that configuration), this producing a satisfactory visual presentation from a marketing point of view.
Heretofore, the above packaging and, more particularly, the folding of the sock cuff was effected manually which is time consuming and can lead to repetitive strain injury (RSI) of the operator's arms and wrists.
Accordingly, it is the principal objective of this invention to provide a process and apparatus for mechanically folding a sock cuff, preferably, a "walk" sock cuff.
It is a further objective to provide such a process includes means to incorporate a and apparatus which includes means to incorporate a cardboard insert inside the sock.
It is yet another objective of the invention to provide such a process and apparatus which includes means for the continuous production of socks in the above configuration using mechanisms under electronically programmable control.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process of folding a sock cuff, more particularly, a "walk" sock cuff, comprising reciprocal movement over and along a blade, portion of said sock covers the blade, sock cuff, of said sock axially along the blade away from the free end thereof,
Advantageously, the gripping of said fold line adjacent portion is momentarily relaxed prior to the folding of the cuff in order to avoid aggregation of material and mishandling during the folding of the cuff. The above has the effect of slightly relaxing the sock so as to also allow predictability in the length of the folded cuff.
According to a preferred aspect of the above process, the blade is loaded with a cardboard member of suitable dimensions to fit the inside of the sock prior to the commencement of said process. This may be conveniently effected by mechanically, preferably with the aid of suction means, transferring the cardboard member from a storage area (containing a stack of cardboard members) to the blade.
According to a further preferred aspect of the invention, the blade with the folded sock (optionally with the cardboard member in the blade) is then transported to another location where the sock is stripped from the blade.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for folding a sock cuff, preferably a "walk" sock cuff, comprising blade and having first gripping means adapted to space and grip the open end of a sock such that movement of the carriage along the blade will substantially envelop the blade with the sock, having second gripping means adapted to move transversly to the blade to grip the sock covering said blade, blade, sock, and means along the blade and transversely thereto.
Advantageously, the apparatus includes means for transferring a cardboard member from a stack of cardboard members to the blade. This may conveniently be effected by means of a pivotally mounted arm associated with suction means adapted to engage and suctionally remove a cardboard member from said stack and to locate said member on the blade to be retained thereon.
For the above purpose, one side of said blade is conveniently provided with a pair of opposed channel shaped ribs, preferably also with a leaf spring to assist retention of the cardboard member in the blade.
Conveniently, the first carriage includes a pair of spaced blades on which the open end of the sock is located so as to distend said end, and a pair of flaps pivotally connected to said blades to grip said open end of the sock in the closed position.
Conveniently, the second gripping means may take the form of a pair of pivotally mounted plates having a duck-bill like action. Preferably, each plate is provided with a high friction surface strip.
The app
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patent: 4827693 (1989-05-01), Egea et al.
patent: 4922685 (1990-05-01), Hodges
Coan James F.
Pacific Dunlop Limited
Philpitt Fred
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