GB2237001A

GB2237001A - Adhesive pick up device

Info

Publication number: GB2237001A
Application number: GB8917804A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tavit Lertritroupun; Suwan Buthdee
Original assignee: Tal Apparel Ltd
Current assignee: Tal Apparel Ltd
Priority date: 1989-08-03
Filing date: 1989-08-03
Publication date: 1991-04-24
Also published as: GB8917804D0

Abstract

A device for transporting items comprising a lever 1, and at least one adhesive tape holder 8, 9 having adhesive tape round its periphery such that an adhesive surface 11 to which an item to be transported can be removably attached faces outward, said adhesive tape holder being rotatably mounted on said lever such that a fresh adhesive surface 11 can be presented by rotation of the holder, said lever being pivotable between a lowered position in which said adhesive surface is in contact with the item to be transported so that the item can adhere to the adhesive surface, and a raised position. Rotation of holders 8, 9 presents new adhesive surfaces; piston/cylinder 12, 13 is used to raise/lower the lever 1 against the action of biassing spring 15. <IMAGE>

Description

ADHESIVE PICK UP DEVICE This invention relates to a device for transporting items including picking up items, especially lightweight items and in particular pieces of fabric and the like.

During the manufacture of a product and in particular a manufacture which involves more than one step, it is often necessary to pick up items and/or transport items from one place to another. In particular, during the manufacture of items from fabric and the like it is necessary to transport pieces of fabric from, for example the place in which they are cut to a machinist for sewing. The invention provides a simple and efficient way of picking up and/or transporting fabric and the like from one place to another.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for transporting items comprising a lever, and at least one adhesive tape holder having adhesive tape round its periphery such that an adhesive surface to which an item can be removably attached faces outward, said adhesive tape holder being rotatably mounted on said lever such that a fresh adhesive surface is presentable by rotation of the adhesive tape holder, said lever being pivotable between a lowered position in which said adhesive surface is in contact with the item to be transported so that the item adheres to the adhesive surface, and a raised position.

Various preferred features and embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a device according to one embodiment of the present invention for picking up and transporting pieces of fabric.

A lever 1 is pivotably attached towards one end 2 to a vertical shaft 3 by means of a pin 4. The lever 1 is pivotable about a horizontal axis.

The other end 5 of the lever 1 is formed into an approximate Ushape in a horizontal plane by bending approximately 1/3 of this lever end 5 back along itself to form a free arm 6 which is substantially parallel to the lever and connected to it by a base arm 7.

An adhesive tape holder is rotatably mounted to the front of the free arm 6 facing an operator. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, there are two spaced adhesive tape holders 8,9, mounted on the free arm 6 the first adhesive tape holder 8 being located nearest the free end of the free arm 6. Adhesive tape 10 is wound round the first adhesive tape holder 8 in a clockwise direction as the operator looks at the device.

The free end of the adhesive tape 10 is then passed to and wound round the second adhesive tape holder 9, as required, with the sticky surface of the tape facing outward on the second adhesive tape holder 9 such that rotation of the second adhesive tape holder 9 in an anticlockwise direction draws adhesive tape 10 from the first adhesive tape holder 8 allowing a fresh sticky surface to be presented.

The adhesive tape 10 is chosen so that the adhesive is strong enough so that when it is brought into contact with a piece of fabric, the fabric will adhere to the adhesive tape and continue to adhere to it during transportation of the fabric. However, the adhesive should not be so strong as to make it difficult for the fabric to be removed or to damage the fabric.

In a another embodiment the adhesive tape is initially wound round the second adhesive tape holder 9 and then passed to the first adhesive tape holder 8.

In a further embodiment, double sided adhesive tape, i.e. adhesive tape having adhesive on both sides, can be employed in which case both adhesive tape holders 8 and 9 would present a sticky surface for fabric to adhere to. Thus allowing more than one piece of fabric to be picked up and/or transported at one time.

In the present embodiment, the adhesive tape holders 8,9 are box shaped. Adhesive tape 10 is wound round the peripheral side faces 11.

The shape of the adhesive tape holder 8, 9 and also the adhesive tape 10 may be designed in order that a large sticky contact surface is presented to the fabric.

The lever 1 is pivotable between a raised position (as shown in Fig. 1) and a lowered position (not shown). In the raised position, the lever 1 is substantially horizontal for transportation of the fabric. In the lowered position, a side face 11 of the adhesive tape holder 9 having a sticky surface is brought into contact with a piece of fabric to enable the fabric to adhere to the adhesive tape 10.

Movement of the lever 1 is controlled by a rod 12 located towards the vertical shaft 3 and substantially parallel thereto. The rod 12 is connected to the lever 1 such that downward movement of the rod 12 causes the lever to pivot about the pin 4 into its lowered position and upward movement of the rod 12 brings the lever 1 into its raised position, i.e. linear motion of the rod 12 is converted into angular motion of the lever 1. A pneumatic cylinder 13 gives rise to the linear motion of the rod 12.

The shaft 2 is mounted on a plate 14. The rod 12 passes through the plate 14, being held in position thereby, and is connected to the pneumatic cylinder 13 which is located underneath the plate 14.

Movement of the lever 1 is further restricted by means of a compression spring 15, one end of which is attached to the pivoted end 2 of the lever 1 and the other to the plate 14.

The lever and/or device may be rotatable about a vertical axis, conveniently about the vertical shaft 3, towards or away from the operator, in order transport the fabric from one place to another, facilitate removal of fabric from the adhesive tape and to allow the adhesive tape holders to be positioned so that they are lowered onto the fabric to be picked up and/or transported. An additional pneumatic cylinder may be provided for rotating the lever and/or device.

The device is electrically operated by a microswitch or the like. A pneumatic power source may conveniently be used.

The device can be conveniently mounted on the edge or corner of a worksurface by means of a bracket 16 attached to the plate 14.

In operation, in order to pick up a piece of fabric, the microswitch is operated which activates the pneumatic cylinder 13 and rod 12 causing the lever 1 to be brought into the lowered position. Activating the microswitch again causes the lever 1 to be brought into the raised position with the fabric adhered to the adhesive tape 10. The fabric is easily removed from the device by unsticking it from the adhesive tape 10.

After the fabric has been removed from the adhesive tape 10, and before the device is used again, the used sticky surface of the adhesive tape 10 is wound on by turning the second adhesive tape holder 9, thus providing a fresh sticky contact surface 11. The device can be worked without the operator having to move from his workstation, e.g. a machinist can obtain pieces of fabric for sewing without having to leave his sewing machine.

Claims

1. A device for transporting items comprising a lever, and at least one adhesive tape holder having adhesive tape round its periphery such that an adhesive surface to which an item to be transported can be removably attached faces outward, said adhesive tape holder being rotably mounted on said lever such that a fresh adhesive surface can be presented by rotation of the holder, said lever being pivotable between a lowered position in which said adhesive surface is in contact with the item to be transported so that the item can adhere to the adhesive surface, and a raised position.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein there are two adhesive tape holders.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the adhesive tape is wound round one adhesive tape holder its free end being passed to and wound round the other adhesive tape holder such that at least one adhesive tape holder has an outwardly facing adhesive surface and that rotation of one adhesive tape holder allows a fresh adhesive surface to be presented.

4. A device according to either of claims 2 and 3 wherein the adhesive tape is double sided adhesive tape.

5. A device according to any preceding claim wherein a rod is connected to the lever such that downward movement of the rod causes the lever to be brought into its lowered position and upward movement of the rod brings the lever into its raised position.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein a pneumatic cylinder gives rise to linear motion of the rod.

7. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the device is mounted on a surface by means of a bracket.

8. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the device and/or lever is rotatable about á vertical axis.

9. A method for transporting items using a device according to any preceding claim.

10. A device as substantially herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

11. A method as substantially herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.