Tubular Knit Turner with Sliding Eversion for Long Delicate Articles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing turners for tubular knitted articles face difficulties in completely turning long articles without damaging them, especially glossy or delicate ones, and occupy significant vertical space, which complicates installation and operation.
Innovation Solution
A turning device with a tubular body and auxiliary sliding means that can move parallel to its axis, combined with a handling device featuring pivoting half-rings and pick-up members, allows for precise and gentle turning of articles by engaging and disengaging them on the outer surface, reducing the need for extensive vertical space and minimizing risk of damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a tubular body is used to turn long articles by suction, then the article can be turned inside out, but the article cannot be completely eversed due to its length
Solution Approach 1:
The turning process is divided into two distinct phases: first turning the article inside out using suction, then using auxiliary sliding means to push the article down and facilitate complete eversion. This segmentation allows each mechanism to handle a specific portion of the turning task that would be impossible with a single mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Auxiliary sliding means are introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the tubular body and the article. These sliding means engage the article after initial turning and provide the additional force needed to complete the eversion process for long articles that cannot be fully turned by suction alone.
2Volume of moving object
If rollers are used to engage the article on the tubular body surface, then vertical space occupation is reduced, but delicate or glossy articles may be damaged or not properly entrained
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary sliding means are designed as simple, robust elements that can engage and push the article without the complexity of rollers. These sliding means provide sufficient force for turning while being gentler on delicate or glossy articles compared to rotary rollers, reducing the risk of damage during the turning process.
3Manufacturing precision
If the tubular body is made very long to turn complete articles, then all articles can be turned, but the device occupies substantial vertical space
Solution Approach 1:
The turning function is segmented between the tubular body (which provides the initial turning motion through suction) and the auxiliary sliding means (which complete the eversion by pushing the article down). This allows the tubular body to remain relatively short while still achieving complete turning of long articles through the combined action of both mechanisms.
4Reliability
If suction is used to turn the article, then the article can be retained and turned, but long articles cannot be completely suctioned through the tubular body
Solution Approach 1:
The suction mechanism first performs preliminary turning by drawing the article inside out through the tubular body. The auxiliary sliding means then engage the partially turned article and push it down to complete the eversion. This preliminary action by suction followed by completion through sliding allows reliable retention and complete turning of long articles.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables correct turning of long and delicate articles while reducing vertical space occupation, ensuring precise and reliable operation without damaging the articles, and is cost-effective to manufacture.
Implementation Method 1
The interior of the tubular body is then connected to suction means so as to aspirate, through its upper axial end, the article, which remains in any case retained, at its axial end to be closed, by the pick-up device or by the handling device
Data Source
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AI summary
A turning device for tubular knitted articles, particularly for sewing or looping stations for the automated closing of tubular articles at an axial end thereof comprising a lower portion (131) and an upper portion (132), which are arranged respectively below and above an intermediate region at which means (60) are or can be positioned for supporting the tubular article (101) to be turned, which hangs at one of its axial ends and is arranged substantially vertically, a tubular body (137), which can be inserted from the bottom upwardly, with its upper axial end, through said axial end of the article (101 ) that hangs from the supporting means (60) after the article (101 ) has been aspirated into the tubular body (137) through its upper axial end, so as to evert the article (101 ), retained by the supporting means (60), onto the outer lateral surface of the tubular body (137), extracting it progressively from the upper axial end of the tubular body. Auxiliary sliding means (159) are provided, which can move on command with respect to the tubular body (137), parallel to the axis of the tubular body (137), and can engage and disengage cyclically the article (101 ) everted onto the outer lateral surface of the tubular body (137) in order to produce its sliding toward the lower axial end of the tubular body (137).