This invention relates  to machines for sorting articlesuch  as  stockings  or the like,  particularly long hose oladies’ stockings. Due to inequalities in the yarns and variations in thtension to  which they are  subjected  as  they are fed tthe  needles  of  commercial  knitting  machines,  ladiesstockings  produced  by  such  machines  vary  very  considerably  in  proportions  especially  from the  standpoinof length and  the height of  heel  reinforcements.  The  differences become  even  more  pronounced as a  consequencof  frequent  handling  of the stockings  in the ?nishing  operations of toe closing,  seaming, pro-boarding, dyeing and?nal  boarding.  It  is  therefore  necessary to match thstockings, i.  e.,  to “pair” themin  preparation for marketing.  Pairing of the  stockings by hand, as has been thgeneral practice heretofore, is  not only tedious and timeconsuming, but entails  employment of experienced helpat high pay which adds very considerably to productioncosts. The  chief aim  of  my  invention  is to overcome  the abovementioned  drawbacks.31250
  This  objection  is  attained  ipractice,  as  hereinafter  more fully  disclosed,  throughprovision of a  relatively simple reliable and efficient machine  whereby stockings  successively  placed therein aresensed for length  and/or heel proportioning and, in accordance with their  lengths  and/or heel proportioning,are  automatically  deposited  into  different  collecting receptacles pre-assigned to receive them. Other  objects  and  attendant  advantages  will  appearfrom the following detailed  description  of the  attacheddrawings, wherein: Figs.  1  and 2,  taken together, show the side elevationof a stocking sorting  machine  conveniently embodying  myinvention,  with  portions  thereof broken out and othersin longitudinal section. Figs. 3 and  4,  taken together, show the machine  in topplan,  likewise  with portions thereof broken out. Fig. 5 shows, in elevation, the front or loading end ofthe machine as seen from the left of Figs.  1  and 3,  withthe mid  portion broken out.  . Figs. 6 and  7 are fragmentary detail views in  transversesection taken as  indicated respectively by the angled ar rows VI—VI  and VII-VII  in Fig.  1. Fig.  8  is  a fragmentary detail view in horizontal sec~tion taken as indicated by the angled arrows VIII-—-VIIIin Fig. 1.  - Figs. 9,  10,  ll, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are  fragmentary  detailperspective  views of various portions  of the machine. Fig. 16 is a  diagrammatic View  showing  the connectionsbetween various  pneumatic  and  electrical  devices  em bodied in the machine. Fig.  17 is  a view similar to Fig.  16 with the controlswitches for the electrical devices set for automatic sort ing by the machine of stockings of varying lengths andheel heights. Figs.  18 and 19  are views which, in turn,  are similarto Fig.  16 but with the control switches set  respectivelyfor  automatic  sorting  of  stockings  of  different  lengths      
  only,  and for automatically sorting stockings in accord ance with  variations in heel height only. With more speci?c reference ?rst more particularly to Figs.  1-5, it  will be noted that my  stocking sorting ma chine comprises an open foundation frame 1 which may be of structural  steel with the component parts  thereof rivetted together or otherwise  rigidly united at the regions of juncture.  Arranged longitudinally  Within  the frame 1  is  an endless  conveyer whereof the side chains 2 are trained  about pairs  of upper and lower sprocket wheels 3,  4  and 5,  6 which, respectively,  are  a?ixed to trans verse shafts  7,  8 and 9,  10 at opposite ends of the ma chine.  The shaft  7 is  journalled in  bearings  11 which. are  shiftable  along  slideways  12  on the  upper  longi tudinals 13 of frame 1 by means of adjusting screws 15, the shaft 8 being  rotatively supported in said upper  longi tudinals, and the shafts 9 and 10 being journalled in ?xed‘. bearings 16 and 17  respectively on  the lower  longitudinals 18 of said frame.  As a result of this  construction, the chains  2  are  constrained  to  move in  substantially  rec tangular paths  in  the  direction  of  the  arrow shown in Fig.  1,  while  held  taut  by proper  adjustment  of  the‘ bearings 11 of shaft 7 by the screws 15.  The chains 2 are driven by  power  transmitted  through a speed  reducing sprocket  chain  connection  19  (Fig.  2),  to  the  shaft 8 from an electric  motor 20.  The upper horizontal runs of  the  conveyer  chains  2  are  slidingly  sustained  from‘ beneath upon tracks 21 and 121 secured to supplemental angle  section  longitudinals  22 and 122 which are  sup ported  by  brackets  23  and  123  from the  upper  main longitudinals  13  and 113 of frame 1  somewhat inward of and above said longitudinals  as  best  shown in Figs. 1,  2,  3, 4  and  6.  ‘ Af?xed to the chains 2 at uniformly spaced intervals, are  lugs  25 with inwardly-extending lateral  socket pro jections 25a  for reception of  pivoting trunnion  projections 26a of lugs 26 at the frontal corners of ?at rectangular trays  27 by which inpidual  stockings to be sorted are temporarily supported in the machine.  The trays 27 are struck  from  sheet  material,  preferably  polished  light re?ecting  aluminum,  stainless  steel  or  other  corrosion resistant metal, and are  provided along  their end  and  side edges  with  downward  stiffening  ?anges.  The  socket projections 25a of the chain lugs 25 ride on the tops of the supplemental longitudinals 22 and 122 during move ment of the chains 2 on the track rails 21 and 121, and are gauged by sliding  contact'of their  distal'ends  with upstanding guard strips 28 and 128 secured to said track rails, see Figs. 3,  4,  6,  10 and 11.  At their rear corners, the  trays  27  are  provided  with  lugs  29  having  short‘ lateral  projections  29a which, except as  later explained, normally ride  on the inward horizontal top ?anges 22a and 122a of the supplemental longitudinals 22 and 122 of the frame as best seen in Figs.  3,  4,  5,  6,  10,  11,  12 and 13.  Each  tray  27  is provided, adjacent one side  edge, with a heel  stop  30 to  facilitate  accurate placement of‘ a stocking S thereupon, and along its  forward or leading edge  adjacent  the  opposite  side  edge,  with a guideway 31  for  a  slide  32 having an upstanding stud  33 for a purpose hereinafter described. The stockings  to  be sorted are placed in  a pile  P on‘ a  shelf  35 which is  bridged  over  the  conveyer  at  the front  or loading end of the machine, and which is  suit ably supported at its  opposite ends from the frame longi tudinals  by brackets 36 and 136.  As the trays  2'7  suc cessively assume a horizontal position immediately after rounding the sprockets  3  at  the loading end of the ma chine,  inpidual  stockings  S are taken from the pile  P by  hand  and  positioned  on  said  trays  in  the  manner previously  pointed  out  with  their  heels  lodged  in  the stops 36,  for advancement of the stockings rightward in Figs. 1  and  3 beneath the shelf 35. 3 The  means  provided for successively sensing the stock ings  for length  includes  a photo electric  eye  40 within a housing 41.  As shown, this housing 41 is  mounted on aslide  carriagel42  attached  to  the  outer  end  of  the piston  43 of a double acting  air  cylinder  44 supported at one side  of the machine by a ?xed bracket 45,  said carriage  being shiftable  in  and out to  a  limited  extent transversely of the machine on a ?xed cross member  46. Compressed air is  admitted to  and exhausted from cylin der 44 under the control of a magnetically-actuated slide valve 47 which will be referred to again presently.  Also secured to the piston 43 of cylinder 44 is  a pusher pro jection  48 for  engaging the upstanding studs  33 of the slides '32  as  the  trays  27  successively  pass  beneath the sensing eye 40. 'For the  purpose  of  sensing  the  height  of  the  high heel reinforcements H  of the stockings, 袜子分拣机英文文献和中文翻译:http://www.youerw.com/fanyi/lunwen_27347.html