CA1083619A - Needle pickup method and apparatus - Google Patents
Needle pickup method and apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1083619A CA1083619A CA295,461A CA295461A CA1083619A CA 1083619 A CA1083619 A CA 1083619A CA 295461 A CA295461 A CA 295461A CA 1083619 A CA1083619 A CA 1083619A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- needles
- sheet material
- plate
- frame
- loading platform
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 5
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 42
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 abstract description 19
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 description 11
- 238000009958 sewing Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000000151 deposition Methods 0.000 description 3
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000008021 deposition Effects 0.000 description 2
- 241000272470 Circus Species 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000018109 developmental process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002356 single layer Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
- B65H3/22—Separating articles from piles by needles or the like engaging the articles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
- B65H3/32—Separating articles from piles by elements, e.g. fingers, plates, rollers, inserted or traversed between articles to be separated and remainder of the pile
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
- Sewing Machines And Sewing (AREA)
- De-Stacking Of Articles (AREA)
Abstract
NEEDLE PICKUP METHOD AND APPARATUS
Abstract of the Disclosure A unique pickup device for single or multiple fabric or sheet layer materials incorporating a plurality of parallel needles which when simultaneously actuated pierce one or more layers to cause pickup, and after transport, stripping means for removal therefrom.
Abstract of the Disclosure A unique pickup device for single or multiple fabric or sheet layer materials incorporating a plurality of parallel needles which when simultaneously actuated pierce one or more layers to cause pickup, and after transport, stripping means for removal therefrom.
Description
7 Back~round o the Invention 8 Various needle pickup devices are known which employ one 9 or more needles which can be actuated to pierce single or multiple layers of fabric or other sheet material, thereby effecting pickup 11 engagement. One orm of such device has been disclosed in U.S.
12 Patent No. 3,601,390 which teaches the use of a plurality of 13 needles which are respectively mounted in stationary and movable 14 portions of.a pickup head and which can spatially engage a fabric 16 layer to cause the fabric to adhere to the head. Another generally similar mechanism is shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,583,698, each of i7 the foregoing representing developments of the present assignee.
-18 - The present invention concerns an improvement of previous 19 ly developed techniques in that the disclosed device is able, with a great degree of precision, (a) to hold apparel parts before and 21 during the pickup step, (b) to maintain such parts in a predeter-22 mined relationship to the pickup device while transporting same to another location, and (c) to deposi~ such parts precisely in a 24 new location during disengagement of the needles from the pickup ~6 device. Also, the needle configuration in the disclosed arrange-
12 Patent No. 3,601,390 which teaches the use of a plurality of 13 needles which are respectively mounted in stationary and movable 14 portions of.a pickup head and which can spatially engage a fabric 16 layer to cause the fabric to adhere to the head. Another generally similar mechanism is shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,583,698, each of i7 the foregoing representing developments of the present assignee.
-18 - The present invention concerns an improvement of previous 19 ly developed techniques in that the disclosed device is able, with a great degree of precision, (a) to hold apparel parts before and 21 during the pickup step, (b) to maintain such parts in a predeter-22 mined relationship to the pickup device while transporting same to another location, and (c) to deposi~ such parts precisely in a 24 new location during disengagement of the needles from the pickup ~6 device. Also, the needle configuration in the disclosed arrange-
2~ ment is such that the new pickup device will not disfigure fabric 27 by its needle-piercing action or by withdrawal of the needles from 28 the fabric.
29 Summary of the Invention , . , . i . .. . . . . .. _ . . , .. .. _ _, .. , .. .. ... _ . , . " . . .. _ . . . , . . . . . I
; . 50 In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a 51 device is provided wh~ich is adapted to pick up and release a S2 layer of sheet material from a loading platform comprising, a frame B ; -. ' ~' ' ~ ' ' ' ' ' ~" ' .... ' . , : . : . . .: !
: ' ~' ~ ,' ' , . , ; . ..
~ 33619 located in overlying relationship above said platform, a plurality of needles secured to said frame to project downwardly :
toward said layer from an undersurface of said frame, said needles being spaced apart lengthwise and widthwise to pierce said layer peripherally thereof, a single flat plate extending about and continuously extending between all-of said needles horizontally beneath said frame, means for moving said plate toward said sheet material to press ~he material lying between all of said needles uniformly toward and against said platform, ¦
apertures defined by said plate for receiving said needles, mean for moving said needles through said plate and through said shee~ material, means for limiting movement of said needles through said plate and into said material, means for maintainin said plate and needles in a predetermined relative position while transporting said sheet material to an alternate location, :~
and means for moving said plate upon reaching said alternate location away from said frame to withdraw said needles from said sheet material whereby said sheet material is stripped from said ~; -needles and is deposited at said alternate iocation.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for picking up and releasing a layer of ~:
sheet material from a plurality of layers of sheet material ~
..., . . ., ._.. . .
forming a stack located upon a loading platform comprising the : steps of: first, uniformly and in an overall manner pressing the stack of sheet material down and against the loading platfom throughout an area to be subsequently pierced by spaced apart I :
needles; second, piereing said sheet material lengthwise and ; widthwise adjacent to the periphery thereof by a plurality of needles which move through said sheet material toward said loading platform; third, limiting the piercing movement of said needles to engage only a predetermined thickness of material; ~ .
fourth, releasing the flattening pressure from said stack;
-la-B
36~L9 fifth, lifting said needles and sheet material from said stack;l : sixth, moving said needles and sheet material to a location '-,, other than said loading platform and seventh, withdrawing said needles from said sheet material to.effect disengagement from said sheet material and to deposit said sheet material at said other location. : , , Brief Description of ~he Drawings Fig, l(a~ illustrates the use of a fabric picker picking from a stack of fabric parts and depositing same upon a shutter for transport to the pickup device of the present invention; .
Fig. l(b) illustrates the pickup device of the present inventi.on as it would initially appear in relation to the shutter ,~
ca,rrying a part deposited thereon by the pickup device of Fig. l(a);
Fig. l(c) indicates an alternate position of the pickup device of the present invention having picked up from the position ' '~
shown i.n Fig. l(b), preparing to deposit a part after transporting sa,me to an al~ernate location;
Fig. 2 is.a side view of the pickup device o~ the present inven~ion in its at-rest or non-ac~uated position;
Fig. 3 is a, side yiew of the pickup device of Fig. 2 with 1:
the combination clamping and stripper plate having been.mo~ed to .~
10~3619 press a fabric part against a loading platform supporting such 2 part;
29 Summary of the Invention , . , . i . .. . . . . .. _ . . , .. .. _ _, .. , .. .. ... _ . , . " . . .. _ . . . , . . . . . I
; . 50 In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a 51 device is provided wh~ich is adapted to pick up and release a S2 layer of sheet material from a loading platform comprising, a frame B ; -. ' ~' ' ~ ' ' ' ' ' ~" ' .... ' . , : . : . . .: !
: ' ~' ~ ,' ' , . , ; . ..
~ 33619 located in overlying relationship above said platform, a plurality of needles secured to said frame to project downwardly :
toward said layer from an undersurface of said frame, said needles being spaced apart lengthwise and widthwise to pierce said layer peripherally thereof, a single flat plate extending about and continuously extending between all-of said needles horizontally beneath said frame, means for moving said plate toward said sheet material to press ~he material lying between all of said needles uniformly toward and against said platform, ¦
apertures defined by said plate for receiving said needles, mean for moving said needles through said plate and through said shee~ material, means for limiting movement of said needles through said plate and into said material, means for maintainin said plate and needles in a predetermined relative position while transporting said sheet material to an alternate location, :~
and means for moving said plate upon reaching said alternate location away from said frame to withdraw said needles from said sheet material whereby said sheet material is stripped from said ~; -needles and is deposited at said alternate iocation.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for picking up and releasing a layer of ~:
sheet material from a plurality of layers of sheet material ~
..., . . ., ._.. . .
forming a stack located upon a loading platform comprising the : steps of: first, uniformly and in an overall manner pressing the stack of sheet material down and against the loading platfom throughout an area to be subsequently pierced by spaced apart I :
needles; second, piereing said sheet material lengthwise and ; widthwise adjacent to the periphery thereof by a plurality of needles which move through said sheet material toward said loading platform; third, limiting the piercing movement of said needles to engage only a predetermined thickness of material; ~ .
fourth, releasing the flattening pressure from said stack;
-la-B
36~L9 fifth, lifting said needles and sheet material from said stack;l : sixth, moving said needles and sheet material to a location '-,, other than said loading platform and seventh, withdrawing said needles from said sheet material to.effect disengagement from said sheet material and to deposit said sheet material at said other location. : , , Brief Description of ~he Drawings Fig, l(a~ illustrates the use of a fabric picker picking from a stack of fabric parts and depositing same upon a shutter for transport to the pickup device of the present invention; .
Fig. l(b) illustrates the pickup device of the present inventi.on as it would initially appear in relation to the shutter ,~
ca,rrying a part deposited thereon by the pickup device of Fig. l(a);
Fig. l(c) indicates an alternate position of the pickup device of the present invention having picked up from the position ' '~
shown i.n Fig. l(b), preparing to deposit a part after transporting sa,me to an al~ernate location;
Fig. 2 is.a side view of the pickup device o~ the present inven~ion in its at-rest or non-ac~uated position;
Fig. 3 is a, side yiew of the pickup device of Fig. 2 with 1:
the combination clamping and stripper plate having been.mo~ed to .~
10~3619 press a fabric part against a loading platform supporting such 2 part;
3 Fig. 4 illustrates the pickup device of Fig. 2 wherein the needles of the device have been actuated to ex~end through the 6 clamping and stripper plate and throug,h the fabric part and through the shutter loading platform;
7 Fig. 5 illustrates the pickup device in,its transport mode position;
9' Fig. 6 illustrates the pickup device in position 10 immediately prior to deposition of the part;
q ~1 Fig. 7 illustrates the~pickup device of F:ig. 2-with the 12 stripper plate having been actuated to strip'the fabric part from the needles;
1~ Fig. 3 is a top view of the pickup device of Fig. 2; , Fig. 9 is a partial side'view of a sewing needle which 16 can be used in'the pickup device of ~ig. 2; and 17 'Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic illustration partially in cross 18 section 'of a needle holder and actuator.
19 Description of a Particular Embodiment ' Referring now to the drawing and initially to Figs.l(a), '21 l(b) and l(c), a possible pick up sequence involving the pickup 2Z device of the present invention in conjunction with a previously : Z5 developed pickup device has been illustrated. In ~ig. l(a), a 2~ prior pickup device lO,which has been described in U.S. Patent No.
26 3,940,125, is shown about to pick the uppermost fabric part 14 ,l 26 from a stack o~ parts 11 arranged upon platform 13. Shown in Z7 dotted outline is a shutter 12 which assists the picker 10 in 28 separa~ing the picked fabric layer from the stack while causing the 29 fabric layer to be deposited upon the shutter 12. Fig. l(b) illus-trates an a,lternate position of the shutter 12 wherein ~he part 14 31 has been b~ought beneath the'pickup device 15,of the present inven-32 tiQn. ~s will be more fully described, the pickup device 15 can be ~' , 1 ~ moved into position immedia~ely above the fabric part 14 to cause 2 ¦ adherence of the part I4 to the pickup device 15. Fig. l(c) shows 5 ¦ the pickup device 15 in dotted outline having been moved to an
7 Fig. 5 illustrates the pickup device in,its transport mode position;
9' Fig. 6 illustrates the pickup device in position 10 immediately prior to deposition of the part;
q ~1 Fig. 7 illustrates the~pickup device of F:ig. 2-with the 12 stripper plate having been actuated to strip'the fabric part from the needles;
1~ Fig. 3 is a top view of the pickup device of Fig. 2; , Fig. 9 is a partial side'view of a sewing needle which 16 can be used in'the pickup device of ~ig. 2; and 17 'Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic illustration partially in cross 18 section 'of a needle holder and actuator.
19 Description of a Particular Embodiment ' Referring now to the drawing and initially to Figs.l(a), '21 l(b) and l(c), a possible pick up sequence involving the pickup 2Z device of the present invention in conjunction with a previously : Z5 developed pickup device has been illustrated. In ~ig. l(a), a 2~ prior pickup device lO,which has been described in U.S. Patent No.
26 3,940,125, is shown about to pick the uppermost fabric part 14 ,l 26 from a stack o~ parts 11 arranged upon platform 13. Shown in Z7 dotted outline is a shutter 12 which assists the picker 10 in 28 separa~ing the picked fabric layer from the stack while causing the 29 fabric layer to be deposited upon the shutter 12. Fig. l(b) illus-trates an a,lternate position of the shutter 12 wherein ~he part 14 31 has been b~ought beneath the'pickup device 15,of the present inven-32 tiQn. ~s will be more fully described, the pickup device 15 can be ~' , 1 ~ moved into position immedia~ely above the fabric part 14 to cause 2 ¦ adherence of the part I4 to the pickup device 15. Fig. l(c) shows 5 ¦ the pickup device 15 in dotted outline having been moved to an
4 ¦ alternate position above a station 16 upon which the ~abric layer ¦ 14 is to be deposited. The fore~oing represents a typical picking ~ ¦ and transporting sequence; however, it will be understood that 7 ¦ variations of such pick up and transportation sequence are posslble 8 ¦ For example, a series of piCkup devices I5 may be arranged to pick 9 I up the fabric parts from various loading platforms or shutters and lO ¦ may be caused to deposit different parts in registry, for example 11 upon a receivlng station 16 which delivers them to be he,~med or 12 sewn together. ' ' 13 Referring now to the ~ore detailed construction of the 1~ pickup device 15 as disclosed in Figs. 2-lO, it will be seen that the device incorporates a horLzontal mounting frame 17 to which are l~ attached a plurality of air actuators 18. As seen in Fig. 10, each 17 of the air actuators consists of a hollow cylinder 19 containing a 18 ~iston 20 reciprocally movable within the cylinder toward the fram 19 17 by admitting air a~ the top of the cylinder through port 21.
Air pressure is maintained at the bottom of cylinder 19, through 21 port 22, to return the piston 20 to its top position whenever 22 pressure ceases to be applied through port 21. Piston 20 is con-23 nected to the arm 23 which extends through the rame 17 and com-2~ prises beneath the frame the hollow needle holder 23a. The shank 'of a needle 24 is retained'within the needle holder 23a by set 2G screw 26. ~ffixed to the lower end of the needle holder 23a is a 27 flat washer-like stop 27, whose function is to abut against the 28 upper surface of a combinatio,n clamping and stripper plate 28 29 horizonta,lly arranged beneath frame 17, thus limiting movement of the needles downwardly through apertures provided in the pla~e 28 31 and through the part 14 when the needle holders 2.3a are moved 52 downwardly by respective air actuators 1~. Fig. ~ illustrates the relative positions of the needle actuating cylinders and the 2 stripper plate. The needles and their actuating cylinders are arranged in a triangular manner with e:Longated portions of the stripper plate 28 e~tending beneath each of the needles. The stripper plate 28 is actuat'ed toward and away from the frame 17 by 6 means of an air actuated cylinder 18 mounted to the frame 17. An ,7 actuating rod 28d interconnects the plate air actuated cylinder 18 and the'pla~e 28 to effect downward and upward movement of the 9 plate 28 upon actuation of the air cylinder. ~'guide pin 30 is rigidly secured to the frame 17 and depends therefrom through ~l section 2~c of the stripper plate.
~2 Fig. 3 shows the position o~ the clamping and stripper plate after it has been actuate~ downwardly against a abric part 14 14 to hold the part 14 against the shutter 12. This is the initial phase of the picking operation and causes the part to be securely 16 held prior to piercing move~ent of the needles through the part.
17 ¦ Fig. 4 illustrates the relative position of the parts of the pickup '18 ¦ d.evice after actuation of the needles through the clamping and l9 ¦ stripper plate 28 and through the part 14. It will be observed 20 ¦ that the ends of the needles also extend slightly through the 21 shutter 12 which has been provided with slots for this purpose.
22 Af'ter pick up, pressure is released above the respective pistons 20,' and the pressure below will cause retraction of the needles 2~ with part 14 and stripper plate with part 14 to the position shown 2~ in Fig. 5, which is the transport mode position.
2~ Fig. 6 shows the pickup device 15 having been moved 27 directly above a receiving station 16. As shown, the device 15 has 28 been moved to a position where the projecting ends of needles 24 29 are only a small fraction of an inch above the surface o~ the receiving station 16., With the part 1~ so posi~ioned (which may be 31 to bring the part 14 into registry with a previously deposited 52 part~,,, the stripper cyli~der 18 will be caused to be actuated to , -'5 -~o836l9 1 ~orce the stripper plate away ~rom the ends ~o the needles 24, ( /
.5'~`3/7 ~ . 7 ~ J~' 2 thus efecting a stripping action~ A~ter dep-osition of the part, -- :_~
~ the stripper plate and needles will again be actuated to the posi-4 tion of Fig. 2 and returned to the ini~ial pickup station.
6 Finally, ~ig. 9 illustrates a typical needle configuratior 8 which has been found to be particularly satisactory.and useful.
7 The needle illustrated is actually a conventional, commercial 8 sewing machine needle having a groove 24a and trans~erse thread 9 opening 2~b therein. It will be seen that as typically manuac-tured, the sewing machine needle 24 has a concave surface 24c which 11 diminishes the width o the needle at this point. Typically, the 12 needles 24 will be extended from their holders sufficiently so that the abric layers will be pierced sufficiently to have the needle 1~ point penetrate the layer somewhat beyond the needle hole 24b, thus permitting the fabric to close slightly in the area o concave lB surface 24c. A particular advantage seen in using ordinary sewing 17 machine needles is that such needles are designed to penetrate most 18 fabrics without disfiguring or tearing the fabric. Another advan-19 tage is that should a needle break or become worn, a ready and inexpensive supply of such needles is always readily at hand.
21 It will be understood that the foregoing description has 22 been of a particular embodiment, and thereore merely representa-23 tive. For example, although the needle assembly has been illus-2~ trated as having the needles descending vertically or parallel to 26 a vertical axis through the ~rame, or certain materials, the 26 needles may be slightly slanted outwardly to increase their rela-27 tive holding capacity. Also, the device as shnwn may be operated 28 somewhat diferently than the sequence described above. For 29 example, or certain materials, i~ may not be necessary to bring ~0 the plate 28 down against the worl~ picce to clamp i~ against thc 31 loading plat~orm prior to piercing with the needles. In such 52 circu~stances, it may be possible, ~or example, to merely actuate I the needles to carry the plate 28 downwardly against stops 27 caus-2 ing the piercing action to occur prior to bringing the plate 28 down against the work piece. Thereaftler, stripping action will be effected as described. In order to understand fully the scope of the invention, attention should be dirlected to the claims.
~: 7 . . .
. . " . .
.11 . ' . . .
19 . . ' .
28 ~ . .
51 ~
Air pressure is maintained at the bottom of cylinder 19, through 21 port 22, to return the piston 20 to its top position whenever 22 pressure ceases to be applied through port 21. Piston 20 is con-23 nected to the arm 23 which extends through the rame 17 and com-2~ prises beneath the frame the hollow needle holder 23a. The shank 'of a needle 24 is retained'within the needle holder 23a by set 2G screw 26. ~ffixed to the lower end of the needle holder 23a is a 27 flat washer-like stop 27, whose function is to abut against the 28 upper surface of a combinatio,n clamping and stripper plate 28 29 horizonta,lly arranged beneath frame 17, thus limiting movement of the needles downwardly through apertures provided in the pla~e 28 31 and through the part 14 when the needle holders 2.3a are moved 52 downwardly by respective air actuators 1~. Fig. ~ illustrates the relative positions of the needle actuating cylinders and the 2 stripper plate. The needles and their actuating cylinders are arranged in a triangular manner with e:Longated portions of the stripper plate 28 e~tending beneath each of the needles. The stripper plate 28 is actuat'ed toward and away from the frame 17 by 6 means of an air actuated cylinder 18 mounted to the frame 17. An ,7 actuating rod 28d interconnects the plate air actuated cylinder 18 and the'pla~e 28 to effect downward and upward movement of the 9 plate 28 upon actuation of the air cylinder. ~'guide pin 30 is rigidly secured to the frame 17 and depends therefrom through ~l section 2~c of the stripper plate.
~2 Fig. 3 shows the position o~ the clamping and stripper plate after it has been actuate~ downwardly against a abric part 14 14 to hold the part 14 against the shutter 12. This is the initial phase of the picking operation and causes the part to be securely 16 held prior to piercing move~ent of the needles through the part.
17 ¦ Fig. 4 illustrates the relative position of the parts of the pickup '18 ¦ d.evice after actuation of the needles through the clamping and l9 ¦ stripper plate 28 and through the part 14. It will be observed 20 ¦ that the ends of the needles also extend slightly through the 21 shutter 12 which has been provided with slots for this purpose.
22 Af'ter pick up, pressure is released above the respective pistons 20,' and the pressure below will cause retraction of the needles 2~ with part 14 and stripper plate with part 14 to the position shown 2~ in Fig. 5, which is the transport mode position.
2~ Fig. 6 shows the pickup device 15 having been moved 27 directly above a receiving station 16. As shown, the device 15 has 28 been moved to a position where the projecting ends of needles 24 29 are only a small fraction of an inch above the surface o~ the receiving station 16., With the part 1~ so posi~ioned (which may be 31 to bring the part 14 into registry with a previously deposited 52 part~,,, the stripper cyli~der 18 will be caused to be actuated to , -'5 -~o836l9 1 ~orce the stripper plate away ~rom the ends ~o the needles 24, ( /
.5'~`3/7 ~ . 7 ~ J~' 2 thus efecting a stripping action~ A~ter dep-osition of the part, -- :_~
~ the stripper plate and needles will again be actuated to the posi-4 tion of Fig. 2 and returned to the ini~ial pickup station.
6 Finally, ~ig. 9 illustrates a typical needle configuratior 8 which has been found to be particularly satisactory.and useful.
7 The needle illustrated is actually a conventional, commercial 8 sewing machine needle having a groove 24a and trans~erse thread 9 opening 2~b therein. It will be seen that as typically manuac-tured, the sewing machine needle 24 has a concave surface 24c which 11 diminishes the width o the needle at this point. Typically, the 12 needles 24 will be extended from their holders sufficiently so that the abric layers will be pierced sufficiently to have the needle 1~ point penetrate the layer somewhat beyond the needle hole 24b, thus permitting the fabric to close slightly in the area o concave lB surface 24c. A particular advantage seen in using ordinary sewing 17 machine needles is that such needles are designed to penetrate most 18 fabrics without disfiguring or tearing the fabric. Another advan-19 tage is that should a needle break or become worn, a ready and inexpensive supply of such needles is always readily at hand.
21 It will be understood that the foregoing description has 22 been of a particular embodiment, and thereore merely representa-23 tive. For example, although the needle assembly has been illus-2~ trated as having the needles descending vertically or parallel to 26 a vertical axis through the ~rame, or certain materials, the 26 needles may be slightly slanted outwardly to increase their rela-27 tive holding capacity. Also, the device as shnwn may be operated 28 somewhat diferently than the sequence described above. For 29 example, or certain materials, i~ may not be necessary to bring ~0 the plate 28 down against the worl~ picce to clamp i~ against thc 31 loading plat~orm prior to piercing with the needles. In such 52 circu~stances, it may be possible, ~or example, to merely actuate I the needles to carry the plate 28 downwardly against stops 27 caus-2 ing the piercing action to occur prior to bringing the plate 28 down against the work piece. Thereaftler, stripping action will be effected as described. In order to understand fully the scope of the invention, attention should be dirlected to the claims.
~: 7 . . .
. . " . .
.11 . ' . . .
19 . . ' .
28 ~ . .
51 ~
Claims (2)
1. A device adapted to pick up and release a layer of sheet material from a loading platform comprising, a frame located in overlying relationship above said platform, a plurality of needles secured to said frame to project downwardly toward said layer from an undersurface of said frame, said needles being spaced apart lengthwise and widthwise to pierce said layer peripherally thereof, a single flat plate extending about and continuously extending between all of said needles horizontally beneath said frame, means for moving said plate toward said sheet material to press the material lying between all of said needles uniformly toward and against said platform, apertures defined by said plate for receiving said needles, means for moving said needles through said plate and through said sheet material, means for limiting movement of said needles through said plate and into said material, means for maintaining said plate and needles in a predetermined relative position while transporting said sheet material to an alternative location, and means for moving said plate upon reaching said alternate location away from said frame to withdraw said needles from said sheet material whereby said sheet material is stripped from said needles and is deposited at said alternate location.
2. The method of picking up and releasing a layer of sheet material from a plurality of layers of sheet material forming a stack located upon a loading platform comprising the steps of: first, uniformly and in an overall manner pressing the stack of sheet material down and against the loading platform throughout an area to be subsequently pierced by spaced apart needles; second, piercing said sheet material lengthwise and widthwise adjacent to the periphery thereof by a plurality of needles which move through said sheet material toward said loading platform; third, limiting the piercing movement of said needles to engage only a predetermined thickness of material;
fourth, releasing the flattening pressure from said stack;
fifth, lifting said needles and sheet material from said stack.
sixth, moving said needles and sheet material to a location other than said loading platform and seventh, withdrawing said needles from said sheet material to effect disengagement from said sheet material and to deposit said sheet material at said other location.
fourth, releasing the flattening pressure from said stack;
fifth, lifting said needles and sheet material from said stack.
sixth, moving said needles and sheet material to a location other than said loading platform and seventh, withdrawing said needles from said sheet material to effect disengagement from said sheet material and to deposit said sheet material at said other location.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US83578177A | 1977-09-22 | 1977-09-22 | |
| US835,781 | 1977-09-22 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1083619A true CA1083619A (en) | 1980-08-12 |
Family
ID=25270446
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA295,461A Expired CA1083619A (en) | 1977-09-22 | 1978-01-23 | Needle pickup method and apparatus |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5936047A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1083619A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2839257A1 (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1105969B (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP3822049A1 (en) * | 2019-11-13 | 2021-05-19 | Open Mind Ventures, S.L.U. | System for picking-up elements |
Families Citing this family (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DD153484A3 (en) * | 1980-03-28 | 1982-01-13 | Horst Aurich | DEVICE FOR THE SINGLE FLEXIBLE FLUID IMAGE |
| DE8324779U1 (en) * | 1983-08-29 | 1989-05-03 | Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München | Grippers for industrial robots |
| IT1178673B (en) * | 1984-11-30 | 1987-09-16 | Pirelli | TRANSLATOR DEVICE FOR HANDLING PLANTS OF RUBBERIZED FABRIC |
| DE3907104A1 (en) * | 1989-03-04 | 1990-09-06 | Joachim Neuberg | Device for conveying samples to a gluing station |
| JPH02137342U (en) * | 1989-04-21 | 1990-11-15 | ||
| FI84919C (en) * | 1990-03-14 | 1992-02-10 | Pentti Airaksinen | MEDEL VID AUTOMATISK BEHANDLING AV ETT TYGSTYCKE. |
| JP2798883B2 (en) * | 1994-03-17 | 1998-09-17 | 日本碍子株式会社 | Conveying device for mat-shaped articles |
-
1978
- 1978-01-23 CA CA295,461A patent/CA1083619A/en not_active Expired
- 1978-09-09 DE DE19782839257 patent/DE2839257A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1978-09-20 IT IT51163/78A patent/IT1105969B/en active
- 1978-09-21 JP JP53116458A patent/JPS5936047A/en active Pending
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP3822049A1 (en) * | 2019-11-13 | 2021-05-19 | Open Mind Ventures, S.L.U. | System for picking-up elements |
| WO2021094640A1 (en) * | 2019-11-13 | 2021-05-20 | Open Mind Ventures, S.L.U. | System for picking up elements |
| EP4215318A1 (en) * | 2019-11-13 | 2023-07-26 | Open Mind Ventures, S.L.U. | System for picking-up elements |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| IT7851163A0 (en) | 1978-09-20 |
| JPS5936047A (en) | 1984-02-28 |
| DE2839257A1 (en) | 1979-04-05 |
| IT1105969B (en) | 1985-11-11 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |