Apparatus for handling stockings

摘要

Stocking handling apparatus having carrier plates on which pairs of stockings are indexed transversely from a loading station through label and transfer applying stations to a folding station. A label folding mechanism receives an adhesive coated label at the label applying station and positions it at the end portion of a pair of stockings on the carrier plate and folds the label thereover to adhere it thereto. At the transfer applying station a transfer strip is fed under a holddown frame that positions the strip on the top stocking of the pair while a hot transfer iron moves against the transfer strip to transfer the indicia therefrom to the stocking. A stocking folding rod lifts the pair of stockings from the carrier plate at the folding station in folded condition over the rod and transports the folded stockings through a passage between spaced opposed walls to a hanger clip inserting station at which a mechanism inserts hanger clips in the fold of the stocking with the folding rod having a slot facing the fold to accommodate receipt of a portion of the hanger clip and the passage walls being spaced close enough to apply resistance to movement of the stockings to tension the stockings on the rod to prevent displacement during hanger clip insertion. The stockings are discharged to a collection station by withdrawal of the rod and downward pivoting of a section of the wall under the stockings with a conveyor transporting stockings therefrom.