US3813094A - Mechanism for transfering flexible work pieces - Google Patents

Mechanism for transfering flexible work pieces Download PDF

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Publication number
US3813094A
US3813094A US00260305A US26030572A US3813094A US 3813094 A US3813094 A US 3813094A US 00260305 A US00260305 A US 00260305A US 26030572 A US26030572 A US 26030572A US 3813094 A US3813094 A US 3813094A
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United States
Prior art keywords
stack
foot
pawl
presser foot
ply
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US00260305A
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English (en)
Inventor
R Walton
G Munchbach
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USM Corp
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USM Corp
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Priority to US00260305A priority Critical patent/US3813094A/en
Priority to CA171,765A priority patent/CA978213A/en
Priority to AU56451/73A priority patent/AU478829B2/en
Priority to DE2328300A priority patent/DE2328300A1/de
Priority to JP48063318A priority patent/JPS4961865A/ja
Priority to GB2665873A priority patent/GB1431343A/en
Priority to FR7320629A priority patent/FR2188579A5/fr
Priority to DD171347A priority patent/DD105178A5/xx
Priority to ES415891A priority patent/ES415891A1/es
Priority to IT25195/73A priority patent/IT998136B/it
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3813094A publication Critical patent/US3813094A/en
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    • 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
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A41—WEARING APPAREL
    • A41H—APPLIANCES OR METHODS FOR MAKING CLOTHES, e.g. FOR DRESS-MAKING OR FOR TAILORING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A41H43/00—Other methods, machines or appliances
    • A41H43/02—Handling garment parts or blanks, e.g. feeding, piling, separating or reversing

Definitions

  • the problem is difficult of'solution in reliable manner, and often because there may exist a cleavage of fibers in the interface region.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a novel, yieldable pick-up device adapted to pucker a localized portion of the exposed top sheet of a stack of limp plies, the device including relatively movable means for reliably raising a part of the puckered portion to temporarily seize and fold it on itself during lift-off and transfer.
  • one aspect of the invention lies in the realization that a dislodging point or points bearing with a total pressure of less than a few ounces upon the exterior or top ply of a stack, and with freedom of the points to lightly float in the normal or perpendicular direction upon the exterior ply both initially and during lateral disengaging motion, can permit single plies of a wide range of consistencies to be removed without disturbing underlying plies of the same or very different consistency.
  • the disengaging elements In addition to being prevented from penetrating to the underlying ply by the aggregate resistance (a principle generally shown in Walton 3,406,961), the disengaging elements also avoid pressing upon the outer ply in a manner that would contribute to adhesion or frictional engagement between outer and underlying plies and also allow the contacted portion of the top piece to bulge or pucker or otherwise rise up freely relative to the underlying plies during initial disengaging motion. This combination of features and effects enables a wide variety of thick and thin, dense and loose, stiff and flaccid plies to be removed singly without disturbing the underlying ply.
  • a dislodging element mounted to move freely outward in the normal direction to a surface of the stack in response to contact pressure of the exterior ply is combined with a second element adjacent the dislodging element, toward which the latter moves laterally to nip or fold a portion of the top ply and then remove it.
  • the second element defines a shelf or ledge upon which the ply folds as the disengaging element rises, and preferably means in a terminal portion of the folding motion forces the disengaging element downwardly toward the ledge to grip the ply.
  • cam operated construction of a dislodging element operated, e.g., by a simple movement normal to the stack and a slide-operated construction capable of a snap action movement in the direction parallel to the exterior of the stack, and enabling a low profile device to be presented to a sewing machine or other device receiving the separated ply.
  • means to intentionally curve or bulge the stack and outer ply engaged by the dislodging element floats which assists in making the initial separation means to employ multiple dislodging elements in offset directions for improving separation; and a mechanism for effecting sudden movements of the dislodging element: (a) laterally helping to prevent penetration to the second ply while increasing the hold on the first; (b) normally of the stack for rapid removal when a firm hold on the ply is obtained, and (c) downwardly after removal for deposit of the separated ply with momentum effects assisting in removing the ply from the dislodging element.
  • a particular feature of the invention resides in the provision of a pick-up device comprising a presser foot having a partly open work engaging perimeter for bulging or puckering an exposed locality of a ply, the foot having a jaw disposed in the perimeter opening and formed with a surface spaced above the work engaging perimeter, and a high friction work disengaging and pinching member yieldingly cooperative with said jaw for clamping a portion of the puckered locality upon the jaw surface.
  • a further feature of the invention pertains to the provision of a mechanism whereby relative movement of approach of the presser foot and a ply is effective to impart work seizing relative movement between the high friction member and the jaw, and the mounting of the high friction member is such as to enable it to yield heightwise of the stack while closing to pinch the ply on the jaw.
  • Yet another feature of the invention resides in provision of an adjusting mechanism whereby the initial spacing of the jaw and friction member is made suitable to securing an appropriate nip on the particular material to be seized for transfer.
  • FIGS. 1 through 1c are similar sequential views of a diagramatic embodiment of important portions of a fabric transfer machine
  • FIGS. 2 through 2d are similar sequential views of an embodiment of important portions of a fabric transfer machine
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the embodiment of FIG. 2 in successive positions when used to deposit a separated ply upon a surface
  • FIG. 5 is a view in side elevation of another preferred embodiment incorporating features of the mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 2 4.
  • FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are partially broken-away crosssections, on a larger scale, of the pick-up device of FIG. 5, with the parts in different respective positions, and FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view thereof;
  • FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of another preferred embodiment with the parts in different respective positions.
  • FIG. 11 is a view in side elevation of a portion of an automatic fabric transfer machine employing at least one pick-up device such as the one shown above a stack of work pieces;
  • FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of one possible arrangement of a plurality of pick-up devices mounted for instance in the machine of FIG. 11, adjacent pairs of devices being counter rotated for ply separation;
  • FIG. 13 is similar to FIG. 12, but illustrates an arrangement of two pairs of pick-ups as employed for effecting a different stress pattern aiding in ply separation of a different type of work piece;
  • FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of a pick-up and ply separating assembly, of the type shown in FIGS. 11 13 in initial work engaging condition;
  • FIG. 15 is a bottom plan view of the pick-up portion
  • FIG. I6 is an axial section showing a pincer of the pick-up device in work seizing position over a stack
  • FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 14 but showing the pick-up rotated by its ply separating mechanism
  • FIG. I8 is a transverse section taken on the line XVIII-XVIII of FIG. 16 indicating means for limiting the stroke of the pincer
  • FIG. 19 is a detail view of an adjustable detent for controlling friction.
  • FIGS. 20 and 21 respectively, are a top plan view and side cross-section view of another preferred embodiment of automatic fabric transfer mechanism
  • FIG. 22 illustrates use of the mechanism of FIGS. 20 and 21 in delivering a ply of fabric to an awaiting device
  • FIGS. 23 23c are similar sequential views of certain portions of the embodiment of FIGS. 20 and 21.
  • stack S of plies to be separated comprises different styles and consistencies of shirt material of e.g., 0.010 to 0.025 inch thickness that have been out together in a common pattern.
  • the object of the fabric transfer machine is to automatically separate the outer (in this case top) ply W and feed it to a further operation such as a conveyor sensing machine in a cycle time of 2 seconds, for example, with high dependability of singleness of feed.
  • a further operation such as a conveyor sensing machine in a cycle time of 2 seconds, for example, with high dependability of singleness of feed.
  • the necessary supporting and moving devices are omitted from the drawing.
  • FIG. I pictures dislodging element D of a weight of about 1 ounce in an initial position with a series of rigid points P directed toward ply W. These points are sufficiently long and spaced that they have the inherent capability of penetrating multiple plies at least of the thinnest material in stack S, preferably being card cloth points of approximately one-sixteenth inch length.
  • the element D is lowered to a reference level L and released so that it rests with its weight of 1 ounce, floating upon the top ply while slightly penetrating it.
  • element E has engaged an edge of the stack and caused the portion under element D to convexly curve upwardly, with a tendency to separate the plies in this region.
  • element D moves, floating upward with the ply, remaining in penetrating engagement with it.
  • a dislodging element D is again shown with a ply contacting portion comprising rigid points P,.
  • Element D moves initially from the inoperative position of FIG. 2 relatively downwardly to the operative position of FIG. 2a, in this movement being accompanied by a second element E,.
  • the disengaging element D reaches the stack it is free to move upwardly (more generally, in the outward direction normal to the stack) in response to contact pressure with the exterior piece. This enables element D, to be sensitively adjusted in the normal direction to the local portion of the piece being contacted.
  • dislodging element D move laterally toward second element E, to nip a portion of the top piece between the elements, after which the elements are carried away together in a ply removal motion.
  • the present embodiment achieves this general action with specific additional features which in certain instances add to the effectiveness of the operation. Specifically after dislodging element D, reaches the top ply W, and the ply takes control of its level, element E, continues downwardly in the direction of the arrow of FIG. 2a, with a pressing or indenting surface I pressing against the stack and tending to form an increasing bulge B beneath the disengaging element D,. As shown in FIG.
  • element D rather than resisting this rising motion of the top ply, moves upwardly with it in the direction of the arrow A.
  • the disengaging element is moved laterally from the position of FIG. 2b to that of 20.
  • the fabric contacted by element D is moved with it, while the fabric below surface I is held stationary, the fabric in between folds.
  • the additional height attributable to this fold causes element D, to rise further, arrow A, FIG. 20.
  • element E is provided with a shelf or ledge e toward and above which the dislodging element moves, arrow A
  • downward force F is applied to the element D,, causing the fold of fabric to be gripped firmly between elements E, and ledge e.
  • the force F is overcome by the thickness of the material gripped, thus the particular spacing finally resulting between the members varies with the particular fabric, but always is appropriate to a firm grip on the fabric ply.
  • similar devices act similtaneously to remove other portions of the top ply, and the devices are then moved, e.g., as in FIG. 3, until the top ply is positioned above a receiving surface s.
  • the assembly is moved rapidly downward toward the surface s from the solid line position of FIG. 4 to suddenly stop at the dotted line position of FIG. 4.
  • element 1) is released from force P so as to be free to move up in response to recovery force of the fabric fold, and at the same time element D moves laterally away from element E
  • These combined motions release the ply and impart sufficient momentum to it that any fabric fibers entangled with elements D, and E, are released and the ply is reliably deposited on surface s. From here the elements return to the position of FIG. 2.
  • an upstanding pawl 1 defines a cam surface 2 and a tubular member 13 defines a cam actuator surface 3. While a fabric dislodging surface of the pawl rests upon the fabric, lateral movement of the pawl parallel to the plane of the stack face is accomplished by relative movement of the actuator surface normal (perpendicular) to that plane. In this particular embodiment this motion is achieved by vertical movement of FIG. of the elevator carrying stack S upward against the pick-up device. A vertically movable foot 4 of the pick-up device is engaged by the stack in its upward travel and carries the pawl I and its cam surface 2 upwardly relative to actuator surface 3. In the initial position of FIG.
  • the pawl is biased to open position by a light spring 5, and cam surface 2 resides at an angle to the vertical, sloping beneath actuator surface 3.
  • a horizontal pin 6 rigidly secured to an extension of foot 4 extends through the pawl about which the pawl is free to rotate (although alternatively the pawl could be loosely held by retaining parts, etc.
  • the pawl and foot may embody all the principles discussed in connection with FIGS. 2 1 and also embodies a particularly advantageous removal feature.
  • a means is incorporated responsive to the gripping action of the pick-up device upon a ply of fabric, to move the device upwardly in a rapid or snap motion. This rapidly removes the ply from the stack, and allows the device to be moved, arrow J (FIG. 5), to transfer the ply and return.
  • arrow J FIG. 5
  • the apparatus of FIGS. 5 8 embody this principle with mechanical components for raising and pneumatics for resetting the pick-up device.
  • a tubular member 13 defining the actuator surface 3
  • a ramp 7 of 45 slope the ramp having a detaining notch 8 at its upper end and a stop 9 at its lower end.
  • a horizontally disposed compression spring 10 presses a detent member 11 against the ramp, the notch 8 defining a stressed position for the spring and stop 9 a relatively relaxed position.
  • detent II engages notch 8 while the pick-up device is open, ready to dislodge a ply.
  • the pick-up device is closed in plygripping position, any further upward force exerted by the elevator is transmitted through foot 4 and paw] l to tubular member 13.
  • a force condition is reached when the lower edge of the notch 8 is forced past the detent 11, the detent engages ramp 7 and rapidly expands and, acting upon the sloped ramp, rapidly forces the pick-up device upwardly.
  • a pneumatic line 17 is provided connected to an appropriate control valve.
  • pressure is applied through line above the top of the structure M defining the foot.
  • Structure I4 acts as a piston within tubular element 13, the latter acting as a stationary cylinder, and the foot and (when the pin 6 reaches the lower end of the slot 31) the pawl are propelled downwardly.
  • Pawl 4! thus leaves actuator surface 3 and is free to move to its open position.
  • the air pressure in line 17 also acts upon piston face 25 to rapidly compress spring 10 and allow return downwardly of the entire assembly of elements including those designated 7, 13, and the within elements I and 4.
  • the assembly falls by its own weight within support ring 27 (FIGS. 6 8) and in fact the air pressure through line 15 is not effective to reset the pawl, etc., until hole 29 in the upper part of tube 13 reaches its lower position so as to communicate with line 15.
  • the pawl has an elongated slot 31 receiving the pin 6 and extending parallel to cam surface 2, giving the pawl (weighing about 1 ounce) the freedom to rest and float upon the top ply as has been described above. Furthermore, during the terminal part of the pick-up motion, when the pawl has moved so that its cam surface is parallel to the bore of tubular member 13, the tube 13 slides down upon the pawl so that the end 37 of the tube engages heel 33 of the pawl, and results in a relative clamping against the shoe. In this embodiment increased clamping occurs as the shoe is moved upward by the elevator until the spring detent is overcome.
  • FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the pick-up portion of the embodiment of FIGS. 5 8 and shows the pawl and points 4' of the shoe 4 toward which the pawl acts.
  • FIG. 10 can be identical to that of FIGS. 5 9 except that two pawls I and I" are employed, acting upon spaced apart lines of action as shown, in the direction of the arrows. These produce a couple ton the top fabric ply assisting in the separation while the device rests upon the stack face. Instead, two separate pick-up devices having offset lines of action can have the same effect operating on a torque arm which can be readily varied as conditions require.
  • an elongated retainer spring 41 protrudes from the side of the foot structure 14 and engages the edge and inner bore of tubular element 13.
  • a machine of the general type for automatically feeding fabric sheets W or the like from the top of a stack S is illustrated and described in US. Letters Pat. No. 3,531,103 issued Sept. 29, I970, in the name of R. R. Walton.
  • the particular pick-off devices therein rely on suction as does the adjustable pick-off means disclosed, for instance, in US. Letters Pat. No. 3,550,932 issued Dec. 29, 1970, in the name of R. C. Mason.
  • the present invention provides a mechanical pick-up device generally designated 10 (FIGS. ll, 14, 16) which is herein illustrated as employed in a fabric transfer machine 12 (FIG. 11) in combination with a fluid pressure operated ply separating mechanism generally designated 14, the assemblage 10, 14 (FIG.
  • FIGS. 11 and 14 being shown by way of example only as adjustably mounted on a movable carrier 16 (FIGS. 11 and 14) as, for instance, in the manner disclosed in the cited Mason Patent. It will be understood that, according to the size, shape, and weight of the work pieces W to be transferred, one or a plurality of the assemblages l0, 14 may be mounted in any selected pattern on the carrier 16 as suggested in FIGS. 12 and 13 or otherwise as needed.
  • the pick-up device 10 herein claimed may be operated in combination with other ply separating mechanism, as well as the ply separating mechanism 14 claimed in the cited concurrently filed Lutts et al. application. It will be understood the plies W to be transferred may be top, bottom, or otherwise externally exposed.
  • a tubular body 18 (FIGS. 14, 17) has a threaded stem at its upper end extending through a slot in the carrier 16 for receiving a thumb nut 20.
  • the body 18 is formed with ports 22, 24 (FIGS. 14 and 17) and a partly helical slot 26 for purposes later explained.
  • Slidable axially in the body 18 is a piston 28 having a radial hole the wall of which is threaded for receiving a cam pin 32 slidably extending through the slot 26.
  • the upper portion of the slot 26 is longitudinal and the lower portion extends helically at about 45, relative heightwise and turning movement of the piston 28 being thus limited.
  • a head 34 of the piston is disposed at the lower end of an upper chamber 36 in the body 18 having communication with the port 22, and a lower chamber 38 in the piston communicates with the port 24 via a hole 40 in the wall of the piston 28 when the latter is in its relatively lower position, the hole 40 being effectively closed by the wall of the body 18 when the piston 28 is relatively raised as shown in FIG. l7.
  • a cylindrical stem of a presser foot 42 is axially slidable within limits, being secured by a set screw 44 (FIG. 14) extending through a longitudinal slot 46 in the piston and threaded into the stem.
  • a work engageable peripheral portion 48 of the presser foot is eccentrically enlarged and circular, and centralized with respect to a diametric slot 50.
  • a set screw 52 Secured in this slot by a set screw 52 is a V-shaped tooth 54 having its bevelled faces 56, 56 receding in the slot and extending upwardly to define a shelf portion 58 having an apex slightly above the work engaging surface 48.
  • the pick-up device 10 includes a pinch pawl 60.
  • the pawl 60 has pin 62 and slot 64 connection in a heightwise kerf in the presser foot 42, the arrangement being such that a pair of paralled rows of pointed and biased teeth 66 arcuately disposed on the underside of the pawl 60 are respectively movable in their planes to engage the top sheet W in the locality P (FIGS. 14, 16) where it may have been bulged or puckered by the compressive action of the presser foot portion 48 and, by means next explained, gather the localized portion in pinching relation onto the shelf portion 58, as shown in FIG. 16.
  • the slot 64 may have its length as small as the diameter of the pin 62.
  • a pinch adjusting ring nut 70 (FIGS. 14 18) having a circular camming lip 72 (FIG. 16).
  • a leaf spring 74 is secured at one end to the pawl 60 and has a free downwardly extending portion engageable with an innerface 76 of the presser foot 42 to urge the pawl towards its open or inoperative position.
  • the spring 74 accordingly yieldingly resists movement of the teeth 66 toward pinching relation with the presser foot 42, and more positive pinching is effected as the lip 72 is relatively lowered to cam the pawl 66 toward the shelf portion 58 by mechanism later explained.
  • the ring nut 70 at 90 spacings is semi-bored as at 76 both radially and longitudinal to provide four alternative positions for mating with a cut-away portion 77 in the piston 28 and thus accommodating a pinch control lock pin 78.
  • the pin 78 is detachable and insertable to lock the ring nut in the particular 90 rotational setting affording best results for the heightwise position of the lip 72, a relatively higher lip generally permitting a wider initial nipping position for pinching thicker or more substantial work pieces.
  • refined adjustment by means of the ring nut insures that only a single ply will be seized.
  • the degree of friction between the presser foot stem and the piston 28 is adjustably controlled better to accommodate different types of work pieces W and insure that the top piece will be suitably puckered about the shelf portion 58, for instance as illustrated at P (FIGS. 14 and 16).
  • a spring pressed ball detent 80 engaging the interior wall of the piston 28 is nested in the presser foot stem and backed by an adjustable set screw 82. It will be understood that threading the screw 82 inwardly to increase friction will cause the presser foot 42 to react harder on the stack S before relatively yielding upwardly.
  • relative movement of approach of the stack S and the pick-up device 10 is in this case effected by raising the stack by a cyclical elevator mechanism 33 (FIG. 11) until a pneumatic sensor in the form of a tube 34 (FIGS. 14 and 16) signals for stack lowering (following a time delay) after the top ply has been initially engaged as shown in FIG. 14.
  • the chamber 38 is then a open to exhaust, and a low pressure (roughly on the avfixed in a collar 96 secured on the piston 23.
  • the tube 34 is disposed to be blocked at its lower end by the presser foot 42 approaching an upper limit as shown in FIG. 16.
  • Air flow downwardly in a flexible supply line 92 connected to the tube 84 is thus stopped and the resultant signal, in addition to stopping elevation of the stack S, also signals for operation of the ply separating mechanism I4 by dumping pressure from the chamber 36 whereupon the spring 86 at once causes lifting and rotation of the piston 26 and likewise of the presser foot 42 for effecting separation of the picked-up top ply.
  • the upward displacement of the sensor tube 84 is against resistance of a return spring 94.
  • the presser foot 42 yields upwardly with resistance as suitably selected to compress and thereby bulge or pucker a locality of the top ply W as at I. eccentrically of the piston 28 thus causing an irregular and somewhat annular wave in the top sheet immediately beneath the open pincer teeth 66 to come into engagement therewith at each side of the apex of the shelf 58.
  • the pawl 66 as the presser foot is relatively raised in the piston 28, is cammed by the lip 72 to pinch the puckered portion upon the shelf 58.
  • the assemblies 14 are now jointly moved by the carrier 16 to laterally position the work over a selected delivery position.
  • a switch (not shown) is actuated to pressurize the upper chamber 36 to a degree considerably higher than previously. This forces the piston 28 downward against influence of the spring 86 to return the cam pin 32 to the bottom of its slot 26. The downward move ment of the piston and its resultant rotation to unstress the ply then being carried open the port 40 to let air under pressure through the port 24 and into the chamber 33.
  • the presser foot 42 is abruptly forced downwardly to enable the pawl 60 to be freed by inertia and thus causes the supported top ply to be released for delivery.
  • a movable arm 101 carries a low profile pick-up device from the ply dislodging position shown in FIG. 21 into a restricted space 1116 illustrated in FIG. 22 such as offered by sewing machines and other ply-receiving equipment.
  • Arm Itlll carries base 103 against the stack face with pressure sufficient to dent the stack as shown in FIG. 23 and create a relative bulge B beyond its end.
  • a slide member 1105 is slidably mounted on base 103, e.g., by means of an elongated slot 107 in member and a pair of guide posts I09 and 111 mounted on the base, spaced a distance less than the length of the slot to define the length of permitted travel.
  • the member is held against the base by light compression springs lll9and llIl, thus givingthe end of member 105 freedom to rise under light pressure, e.g., less than one or a few ounces.
  • Member 105 is urged to the left by tension spring 115, but is restrained as in FIG.
  • a catch member 117 here formed by a block having a height of approximately l cm and a length of 6cm.
  • a shoulder I19 of the slide member engages the rightward shoulder of the block, restraining member 105 from springing to the left.
  • the slide member I05 carries on its rightward end a fabric dislodging element 121, in this embodiment comprising rigid teeth 123 of metal card cloth bent in an arc with a lower portion having a horizontal tangent.
  • the card cloth may be of any of a number of varieties available, for instance, from Ashworth Brothers in Fall River, Mass, and here, as in the other embodiments, the tiny teeth 123 or prongs are angled downwardly and in the direction of lateral movement of the dislodging element in its dislodging direction.
  • the upper surface of base I03 is sloped upward at 125 providing a shelf or ledge over which the element 121 travels.
  • the curve of element 121 disposes in particular the prongs 123 near horizontal tangency for contact with the top ply, there being e.g., 5 prong rows in the slide direction.
  • FIG. 23b When the end of block 117 is reached, the upward restraint of the block is removed and the restraining element may lower in a gripping action upon the folded ply, FIG. 23c.
  • arm 101 is lifted to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 21 for removing the ply or the grasped portions from the stack and then it is moved to a deposit position as illustrated in FIG. 22.
  • the ply is deposited by pneumatics and a jostling of the dislodging element accomplished by simply returning it to open position.
  • compressed air is introduced through line 131 to force piston 133 to the right, carrying with it slide member 105.
  • the leading part 120 of the slide strikes the retaining block 117 it is bumped upwardly as it opens, helping to jerk the points free of the ply and helping to straighten the temporary fold that was formed.
  • the sudden lateral movement of the dislodging element by the pressure of the top ply has the simultaneous benefits of helping to prevent penetration to the second ply and increasing the hold upon the first ply.
  • a machine for feeding fabric sheets singly from a stack including stack support means and sheet removal means, the latter including a dislodging element, means for positioning said dislodging element and a cooperative stack engageable foot in operative relation at the exterior of the stack, means permitting said dislodging element to move freely outwardly from the stack in the direction normal to its external surface in response to contact pressure of a portion of an exterior fabric sheet with said element, means for moving said dislodging element laterally of said fabric sheet to dislodge siad portion of said sheet, a control means operable upon a predetermined free outward movement of said dislodging element from the stack to initiate said lateral movement of said dislodging element into nipping relation to said foot, and means cooperating with said dislodging element for removing said sheet from said stack.
  • a machine for transferring single plies of flexible sheet material from the exterior of a stack including a work support for the stack, a carrier mounted above the support for movement laterally thereof, and means for causing relative movement of approach between the work support and the carrier, at least one pick-up device supported by the carrier, said device comprising a presser foot yieldable heightwise of the stack and having a portion adapted to bulge or pucker a locality of an exterior ply of the stack upon engagement therewith, a high friction member cooperative with said presser foot portion, and mechanism responsive to the heightwise yielding movement of the presser foot for causing the high friction member to move laterally of the stack and pinch said locality against said presser foot portion.
  • a pick-up device for seizing single plies of flaccid workpieces in a stack comprising a presser foot having a work engaging slotted portion for puckering an exposed locality of a top ply, means for yieldably mounting the presser foot, a jaw disposed within the slotted portion and formed with a surface spaced above the work engaging perimeter of said slotted portion from the top ply of the stack, a pincer means movably carried by the presser foot for movement into and out of cooperative ply seizing relation with said jaw surface, and mechanism for causing the pincer means to coact with the jaw surface upon a portion of the locality puckered by said presser foot.
  • a device as in claim 4 wherein said jaw is formed with an apex, and said pawl is provided with spaced rows of teeth disposed for relative movement one on each side of the apex to urge a top ply thereagainst in pinching relation.
  • a machine for transferring single plies of fabric and the like from the top of a stack and including a laterally movable carrier above the stack the combination of at least one pick-up device, and means mounting the device on said carrier, said device comprising a foot yieldably engageable with the top ply to pucker a locality thereof, a V-shaped shelf portion secured adjacent to the bottom of said foot, a toothed member yieldable heightwise of the stack and carried by the foot for movement transversely thereof to pinch a portion of the puckered locality on said shelf portion, and mechanism responsive to movement of the foot relative to the carrier for forcing the member toward the shelf portion to fold and squeeze the puckered locality thereon.
  • a pick-up device comprising a presser foot having a work engaging surface and a stem eccentrically upstanding therefrom, a pointed jaw secured in a recess in said surface and having a shelf portion adjacent thereto, a wedge-shaped pawl pivotally supported on said stem and having convexly disposed teeth arranged in at least one row, and cam mechanism for engaging a surface of said wedge-shaped pawl to move its teeth onto said shelf portion to pinch a localized portion of the work on said shelf portion.
  • a machine for feeding fabric sheets singly from a stack comprising stack support means and sheet removal means, the latter including a work dislodging element in the form of an upstanding pawl supported on a movable piston-cylinder device and having a camming surface, a second work engageable element supported by the device for cooperating with said pawl, a cam operator surface formed on said device and arranged during relative movement of the device and the stack to cause lateral closing movement of the dislodging element to nip a portion of the top fabric against said second element, means for moving the pistoncylinder device to remove the nipped fabric sheet from the stack, and mechanism for controlling pressure fluid to said device to separate said elements and release the transferred sheet.
  • a machine for feeding fabric pieces singly from a stack comprising means for supporting the stack, and piece removal means operable above said stack supporting means, said piece removal means including a carrier, an upstanding work dislodging pawl pivotally and yieldably supported on the carrier and having a camming surface, a foot portion of the carrier being disposed for engagement with a top fabric piece adjacent to a work engageable portion of the pawl, means mounting the carrier for relatively movement heightwise of the stack and into engagement with said camming surface to cause the pawl to nip the portion of said top piece cooperatively with said foot portion, and mechanism for supporting the carrier and substantially movable heightwise of the stack to raise the pawl and foot together with the nipped workpiece.
  • a machine for feeding fabric sheets singly from a stack including stack supporting means and sheet removal means, the latter comprising a dislodging element, means for positioning the dislodging element in operative relation in the exterior of the stack, means permitting said dislodging element to move freely from the stack in a direction normal to its exterior in response to contact pressure of an external portion of an exterior sheet, means for moving said dislodging ele ment to dislodge said portion of the sheet, a nipping member cooperative with said element for removing the sheet from the stack, a spring urged slide movable parallel to an external face of the stack, and a releasable catch means for said slide adapted to carry the dislodging element and said nipping member and releasable in response to free normal movement of the dislodging element to permit the latter to cooperate with the nipping member in removing the nipped sheet.
  • dislodging element comprises at least one pointed member
  • catch means is adapted to release said slide upon work contact pressure less than required for penetration of said pointed member to the underlying fabric sheet, whereby the dislodging element and nipping member are raised from the stack with snap action.
  • a machine for transferring single plies of flexible sheet material from the exterior of a stack including a work support for the stack, a carrier mounted above the support, and means for causing relative movement of approach between the work support and the carrier, at least one pick-up device supported by the carrier, said device comprising a presser foot yieldable heightwise of the stack and having a portion adapted to bulge or pucker a locality of an exterior ply of the stack upon engagement therewith, a high friction member cooperative with said presser foot portion, and mechanism responsive to the heightwise yielding movement of the presser foot for causing the high friction member to move laterally of the stack and pinch said locality against said presser foot portion.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
  • Forming Counted Batches (AREA)
US00260305A 1972-06-06 1972-06-06 Mechanism for transfering flexible work pieces Expired - Lifetime US3813094A (en)

Priority Applications (10)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00260305A US3813094A (en) 1972-06-06 1972-06-06 Mechanism for transfering flexible work pieces
CA171,765A CA978213A (en) 1972-06-06 1973-05-18 Mechanism for transferring flexible work pieces
DE2328300A DE2328300A1 (de) 1972-06-06 1973-06-04 Anordnung zum transportieren einzelner gewebelagen von einem stapel
AU56451/73A AU478829B2 (en) 1972-06-06 1973-06-04 Improvements in or relating to transferring plies of limp sheet material froma stack
JP48063318A JPS4961865A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-06-06 1973-06-05
GB2665873A GB1431343A (en) 1972-06-06 1973-06-05 Transferring plies of limp sheet material from a stack
FR7320629A FR2188579A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-06-06 1973-06-06
DD171347A DD105178A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-06-06 1973-06-06
ES415891A ES415891A1 (es) 1972-06-06 1973-06-06 Perfeccionamientos en las maquinas para retirar de una en una hojas de material flexible de la parte superior de una pila.
IT25195/73A IT998136B (it) 1972-06-06 1973-06-12 Meccanismo per sollevare e sposta re pezzi in lavorazione flessibili

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00260305A US3813094A (en) 1972-06-06 1972-06-06 Mechanism for transfering flexible work pieces

Publications (1)

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US3813094A true US3813094A (en) 1974-05-28

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US00260305A Expired - Lifetime US3813094A (en) 1972-06-06 1972-06-06 Mechanism for transfering flexible work pieces

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US3813094A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS4961865A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA978213A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DD (1) DD105178A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2328300A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
ES (1) ES415891A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2188579A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1431343A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
IT (1) IT998136B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (23)

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US4042271A (en) * 1975-03-20 1977-08-16 Nuovo Pignone, S.P.A. Device for automatically grasping pieces of fabric
US4346877A (en) * 1979-05-17 1982-08-31 Agence Nationale De Valorisation De La Recherche Device for handling sheet-like pieces
US4482144A (en) * 1982-04-01 1984-11-13 Rockwell-Rimoldi S.P.A. Grasping device for stacked workpieces
US4526363A (en) * 1982-03-19 1985-07-02 Sapivog Gripper for textile cloth or the like
US4601463A (en) * 1984-07-03 1986-07-22 Matsuya Hoseikiki Hanbai Kabushiki Kaisha Cloth gripping device
US4605216A (en) * 1984-07-24 1986-08-12 General Motors Corporation Material pick-up mechanism
US4635918A (en) * 1984-03-26 1987-01-13 Alain Rouleau Process and apparatus for gripping flexible, and in particular textile layers, and a machine for gripping and transferring said layers
US4641827A (en) * 1983-06-02 1987-02-10 Richard R. Walton Fabric pickup and the like
US4641826A (en) * 1984-06-15 1987-02-10 Beisler Gmbh Machine designed to lift a flexible, flat workpiece off a support surface
US4645193A (en) * 1984-05-30 1987-02-24 Richard R. Walton Fabric pickup and the like
US4678173A (en) * 1985-12-11 1987-07-07 Fieldcrest Cannon, Inc. Apparatus for automatically and continuously feeding and folding textile articles
US4892298A (en) * 1983-06-02 1990-01-09 Richard R. Walton Device and method for pickup of sheet-form flexible fabric or the like
US4917368A (en) * 1989-03-16 1990-04-17 Polaroid Corporation Sheet feeding method and apparatus
US5248177A (en) * 1992-01-30 1993-09-28 Wrangler Fabric pickup device
US5494275A (en) * 1992-12-14 1996-02-27 Yoshida Kogyo K.K. Cloth piece supply apparatus and method
US5951001A (en) * 1995-03-01 1999-09-14 A.S.T System Automation Di Stradi A. & C. S.N.C. Device for raising an edge of a topmost sheet of a pile of sheets
US20050067753A1 (en) * 2003-09-30 2005-03-31 Avi Zahavi Paper picking system and method
US20080028727A1 (en) * 2006-08-02 2008-02-07 Jacques Dussault Clamp for sheets of material
US8047890B1 (en) 2004-02-05 2011-11-01 James Haas Toy construction set and method
US8142128B1 (en) 2004-02-05 2012-03-27 James Haas Anchor and method for anchoring
US8230794B1 (en) 2004-02-05 2012-07-31 James Haas Holding system and method for a workbench
US20160122055A1 (en) * 2014-11-05 2016-05-05 Anhui Yongcheng Electronic And Mechanical Technology Co., Ltd. Biomimetic bag opening device for automatic filling line
US20220402221A1 (en) * 2021-06-18 2022-12-22 Rohr, Inc. Pressing a multi-layered preform into a shaped body

Families Citing this family (5)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3940125A (en) * 1974-05-17 1976-02-24 Cluett, Peabody & Co., Inc. Picking and transporting means for fabric sections and the like
JPS5450684A (en) * 1977-09-27 1979-04-20 Yoshirou Kawashima Cloth gripping method
JPS56108637A (en) * 1979-10-24 1981-08-28 Kayaba Ind Co Ltd Pick-up method for sheet-shaped material
JPS62175364A (ja) * 1986-01-28 1987-08-01 Chikaharu Iwasaki 織布自動取上げ搬送装置
DE102023114965A1 (de) * 2023-06-07 2024-12-12 Silana Gmbh Verfahren zum robotergestützten Nähen von mehreren Stofflagen

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US3353821A (en) * 1965-06-08 1967-11-21 Union Special Machine Co Ply separator conveyor
US3406961A (en) * 1966-01-27 1968-10-22 United Shoe Machinery Corp Fabric feeding means
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US3550932A (en) * 1968-06-17 1970-12-29 Usm Corp Adjustable pick-off devices
US3588091A (en) * 1968-11-08 1971-06-28 Stone Mfg Co Apparatus and method for picking up and transporting cloth pieces from a stack

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US3253824A (en) * 1964-11-18 1966-05-31 L & L Mfg Inc Apparatus for separating pieces from a stack, and the like
US3353821A (en) * 1965-06-08 1967-11-21 Union Special Machine Co Ply separator conveyor
US3406961A (en) * 1966-01-27 1968-10-22 United Shoe Machinery Corp Fabric feeding means
US3547432A (en) * 1968-06-17 1970-12-15 Usm Corp Sheet handling devices
US3550932A (en) * 1968-06-17 1970-12-29 Usm Corp Adjustable pick-off devices
US3588091A (en) * 1968-11-08 1971-06-28 Stone Mfg Co Apparatus and method for picking up and transporting cloth pieces from a stack

Cited By (28)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4042271A (en) * 1975-03-20 1977-08-16 Nuovo Pignone, S.P.A. Device for automatically grasping pieces of fabric
US4346877A (en) * 1979-05-17 1982-08-31 Agence Nationale De Valorisation De La Recherche Device for handling sheet-like pieces
US4526363A (en) * 1982-03-19 1985-07-02 Sapivog Gripper for textile cloth or the like
US4482144A (en) * 1982-04-01 1984-11-13 Rockwell-Rimoldi S.P.A. Grasping device for stacked workpieces
US4892298A (en) * 1983-06-02 1990-01-09 Richard R. Walton Device and method for pickup of sheet-form flexible fabric or the like
US4641827A (en) * 1983-06-02 1987-02-10 Richard R. Walton Fabric pickup and the like
US4635918A (en) * 1984-03-26 1987-01-13 Alain Rouleau Process and apparatus for gripping flexible, and in particular textile layers, and a machine for gripping and transferring said layers
US4645193A (en) * 1984-05-30 1987-02-24 Richard R. Walton Fabric pickup and the like
US4641826A (en) * 1984-06-15 1987-02-10 Beisler Gmbh Machine designed to lift a flexible, flat workpiece off a support surface
US4601463A (en) * 1984-07-03 1986-07-22 Matsuya Hoseikiki Hanbai Kabushiki Kaisha Cloth gripping device
US4605216A (en) * 1984-07-24 1986-08-12 General Motors Corporation Material pick-up mechanism
US4678173A (en) * 1985-12-11 1987-07-07 Fieldcrest Cannon, Inc. Apparatus for automatically and continuously feeding and folding textile articles
US4917368A (en) * 1989-03-16 1990-04-17 Polaroid Corporation Sheet feeding method and apparatus
US5248177A (en) * 1992-01-30 1993-09-28 Wrangler Fabric pickup device
US5494275A (en) * 1992-12-14 1996-02-27 Yoshida Kogyo K.K. Cloth piece supply apparatus and method
US5951001A (en) * 1995-03-01 1999-09-14 A.S.T System Automation Di Stradi A. & C. S.N.C. Device for raising an edge of a topmost sheet of a pile of sheets
US20050067753A1 (en) * 2003-09-30 2005-03-31 Avi Zahavi Paper picking system and method
US8231425B1 (en) 2004-02-05 2012-07-31 James Haas Toy construction set and method
US8047890B1 (en) 2004-02-05 2011-11-01 James Haas Toy construction set and method
US8142128B1 (en) 2004-02-05 2012-03-27 James Haas Anchor and method for anchoring
US8230794B1 (en) 2004-02-05 2012-07-31 James Haas Holding system and method for a workbench
US7607280B2 (en) * 2006-08-02 2009-10-27 Jacques Dussault Clamp for sheets of material
US20100000072A1 (en) * 2006-08-02 2010-01-07 Jacques Dussault Clamp for sheets of material
US7997050B2 (en) * 2006-08-02 2011-08-16 Jacques Dussault Method of clamping overlaying sheets of material
US20080028727A1 (en) * 2006-08-02 2008-02-07 Jacques Dussault Clamp for sheets of material
US20160122055A1 (en) * 2014-11-05 2016-05-05 Anhui Yongcheng Electronic And Mechanical Technology Co., Ltd. Biomimetic bag opening device for automatic filling line
US9994345B2 (en) * 2014-11-05 2018-06-12 Anhui Yongcheng Electronic And Mechanical Technology Co., Ltd. Biomimetic bag opening device for automatic filling line
US20220402221A1 (en) * 2021-06-18 2022-12-22 Rohr, Inc. Pressing a multi-layered preform into a shaped body

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2188579A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-01-18
IT998136B (it) 1976-01-20
AU5645173A (en) 1974-12-05
GB1431343A (en) 1976-04-07
ES415891A1 (es) 1976-05-16
JPS4961865A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-06-15
DD105178A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-04-12
CA978213A (en) 1975-11-18
DE2328300A1 (de) 1973-12-20

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