US3856294A - Mechanism for separating flexible plies from a stack - Google Patents

Mechanism for separating flexible plies from a stack Download PDF

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Publication number
US3856294A
US3856294A US00260306A US26030672A US3856294A US 3856294 A US3856294 A US 3856294A US 00260306 A US00260306 A US 00260306A US 26030672 A US26030672 A US 26030672A US 3856294 A US3856294 A US 3856294A
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United States
Prior art keywords
stack
ply
pick
fluid pressure
chamber
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 - Lifetime
Application number
US00260306A
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English (en)
Inventor
C Lutts
J Stewart
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USM Corp
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USM Corp
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by USM Corp filed Critical USM Corp
Priority to US00260306A priority Critical patent/US3856294A/en
Priority to DE2328350A priority patent/DE2328350C3/de
Priority to AU56452/73A priority patent/AU478914B2/en
Priority to FR7320374A priority patent/FR2188578A5/fr
Priority to GB2665973A priority patent/GB1431344A/en
Priority to JP48063316A priority patent/JPS4961864A/ja
Priority to ES415892A priority patent/ES415892A1/es
Priority to DD171349A priority patent/DD105179A5/xx
Priority to IT25198/73A priority patent/IT990626B/it
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3856294A publication Critical patent/US3856294A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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 separating mechanism carries and actuates a pick-up device when it has seized an exposed, for instance the top ply, yieldably to rotate the device about an axis substantially normal to the stack while effecting liftoff.
  • the separator and pick-up unit may cooperate with adjacent similar units, counter-rotatable or not, to impart stress in the intervening work piece portions for peeling apart and holding them during transfer.
  • the ply separating mechanism is preferably automatically operable at the delivery position to cause work piece release by reason of inertia.
  • Prior art sheet transferring devices operable upon fabric have utilized pointed work engaging elements, air flow or suction directed against the work, or buckling rolls, for example, in various arrangements in dealing with the two closely related problems of firstly seizing only the exposed or top ply, and secondly, separating the exposed or top ply, when seized, from the underply without disturbing the latter.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a top ply separating mechanism whereby a pick-up device is caused to give at least one locality of the top ply a yieldable twist about an axis substantially normal thereto as the ply is lifted from an underply, and then untwisted at a delivery position whereupon the separating means effects work release.
  • a ply separating mechanism in one arrangement comprises a vertically reciprocable piston for carrying a pick-up device toward and from a stack of flexible sheet material, a tubular body slidably mounting the piston and providing a chamber therebetween, the piston and the body having a pin ahd helical slot connection, the slot extending heightwise of the stack, and control means for changing fluid pressure in the chamber to shift the heightwise and rotational position of the pick-up device with respect to the stack after its ply has been seized by the dev1ce.
  • a further feature of the invention resides in the provision in a sheet transferring machine having a ply separating means of the type indicated, of a first fluid pressure chamber above the piston in said body and a second chamber between the piston and the pick-up device, and control mechanism responsive to pressure in the first chamber for detennining angular and heightwise relation to the body of the piston and a pick-up device carried thereby, the control mechanism being adapted for automatically changing fluid pressure in the second chamber to effect work release by the pickup device at a work delivery position.
  • the invention features separating an exposed flexible sheet of material from a stack by seizing at least two spaced localities of the sheet, yieldingly rotating said localities about axes respectively substantially normal to the plane of the sheet to distort and tension it between said localities, and during the rotation removing the seized sheet from the stack.
  • FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a portion of an automatic fabric transfer machine employing at least one combination ply separating means and pick-up device such as the one shown above a stack of work pieces;
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of one possible ar rangement of a plurality of pick-up and ply separating devices mounted for instance in the machine of FIG. 1, adjacent pairs of devices being counter rotated for ply separation.
  • FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but illustrates an arrangement of two pairs of pick-up and ply separating devices as employed for effecting a different stress pattern aiding in ply separation of a different type of work piece.
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a pick-up and ply separating assembly, of the type shown in FIGS. 1-3 in ini tial work engaging condition;
  • FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the pick-up portion
  • FIG. 6 is an axial section showing a pincer of the pickup device in work seizing position over a stack
  • FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the pick-up rotated and raised by its ply separating mechanism
  • FIG. 8 is a transverse section taken on the line VIII- VIII of FIG. 6 indicating means for limiting the stroke of the pincer
  • FIG. 9 is a detail view of an adjustable detent for controlling friction.
  • a machine of the general type for automatically feed ing fabric sheets W or the like from the top of a stack S is illustrated and described in US. Pat. No. 3,53 l ,103 issued Sept. 29, 1970, 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. Pat. No. 3,550,932 issued Dec. 29, 1970, in the name of R. C. Mason.
  • the present invention provides novel ply-separating means for controlling a mechanical pick-up device generally designated 10 (FIGS. 1, 4, 6, and 7) which is herein illustrated as employed in a fabric transfer machine 12 (FIG. 1).
  • the fluid pressure operated ply separating mechanism is generally designated 14, the assemblage 10,14 (FIG. 4) being shown by way of example only as adjustably mounted on a movable carrier 16 (FIGS. 1 and 4) 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 10,14 may be mounted in any selected pattern on the carrier 16 as suggested in FIGS. 2 and 3 or otherwise as needed.
  • the ply separating mechanism 14 herein claimed may be operated in combination with other pick-up means and the pick-up means claimed in the cited concurrently filed Walton application may be operated in combination with other ply separating mechanism.
  • the plies W to be successively transferred may initially be top, bottom, or otherwise externally exposed.
  • a tubular body 18 (FIGS. 4, 7) 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. 4 and 7) 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.
  • Ahead 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. 7.
  • a cylindrical stem of a presser foot 42 is axially slidable within limits, being secured by a set screw 44 (FIG. 4) 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 parallel 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. 4, 6) 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. 6.
  • a pinch adjusting ring nut 70 (FIGS. 4-8) having a circular camming lip 72 (FIG. 6).
  • 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 urgethe pawl toward 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 lowerd to cam the pawl 66 toward the shelf portion 58 by mechanism later explained.
  • the ring nut 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.
  • 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. 4 and 6).
  • 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.
  • the sensor tube 84 is slidably mounted in a vertical guide sleeve 88 fixed in a collar 90 secured on the piston 28.
  • the tube 84 is disposed to be blocked at its lower end by the presser foot 42 approaching an upper limit as shown in FIG. 6. 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 14 by dumping pressure from the chamber 36 whereupon the spring 86 at once causes lifting and rotation of the piston 28 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 and puckers a locality of the top ply W as at P 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 60 as the presser foot is rela .tively raised in the piston 28, is cammed by the lip 72 to pinch the puckered portion upon the shelf 58.
  • the assemblies l014 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.
  • the downward movement 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 38.
  • 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 ply separating mechanism comprising a reciprocable piston for carrying the pickup device toward and from the stack, a tubular body slidably mounting the piston and providing a first chamber therebetween the piston and the body having a pin and helical slot connection, the slot extending heightwise of the stack with inclination to cause the device to impart torsion to a locality of a top ply for facilitating its initial separation from the stack, a second chamber disposed between the piston and the pick-up device, and control means for changing fluid pressure in the first chamber to effect cooperation between said pin and slot and thereby shift the pick-up rotatively and away from the stack when the top ply has been seized,
  • control means being adapted to change fluid pressure in the second chamber on arrival of the pick-up device with the top ply at a delivery position to effect work release by the device.
  • a ply separating means mounted on the carrier for moving the device between a pick-up position over a stack of flexible work pieces and a delivery position
  • the ply separating means comprising a tubular main body suspended at its upper portion from the carrier, a piston-like member telescopingly related to the body for movement heightwise of the stack and yieldably connected at a lower end to the pick-up device, a first fluid pressure chamber disposed between the body and the member and a second fluid pressure chamber between the member and said device, means providing limited relative rotation between the body and the member during telescoping movement of the latter, a spring connecting the carrier and the member for urging the latter heightwise of the stack, fluid pressure means coupled to the first chamber for overcoming the spring when a top ply has been seized by the device, and fluid pressure means operatively connected to the second chamber for thereafter causing the device to be moved abruptly at the delivery position for effecting work release.
  • a machine as in claim 2 wherein the means providing limited rotation between the main body and the member includes a pin and helical slot connection, the pin also being connected to one end of said spring.
  • a ply separating mechanism comprising a pair of axially telescoping tubular members one of which carries said device for movement above a stack of plies to be singly transferred, said one of the members being responsive to telescoping movement with respect to the other upon engagement of the device with a top ply of the stack for effecting simultaneous rotation of the device about an axis substantially normal to said ply and relative elevation of the device with respect to the stack when its top ply has been seized, said device including a presser foot mounted thereon for limited heightwise sliding movement, spring means for urging said one member heightwise and away from the stack, fluid pressure means for urging the one member heightwise and toward the stack in opposition to the influence of said spring means, and control means actuatable, following operation of the pick-up device, first to cause said device to be raised from the stack and then, upon lateral shifting of the device with its picked-up ply to a delivery position, to cause said fluid pressure means abruptly to overcome the spring

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
  • Load-Engaging Elements For Cranes (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
  • Tyre Moulding (AREA)
US00260306A 1972-06-06 1972-06-06 Mechanism for separating flexible plies from a stack Expired - Lifetime US3856294A (en)

Priority Applications (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00260306A US3856294A (en) 1972-06-06 1972-06-06 Mechanism for separating flexible plies from a stack
AU56452/73A AU478914B2 (en) 1972-06-06 1973-06-04 Improvements in or relating to transferring plies of limp sheet material froma stack
DE2328350A DE2328350C3 (de) 1972-06-06 1973-06-04 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Abheben einzelner Gewebelagen von einem Stapel
GB2665973A GB1431344A (en) 1972-06-06 1973-06-05 Transferring plies of limp sheet material from a stack
FR7320374A FR2188578A5 (cs) 1972-06-06 1973-06-05
JP48063316A JPS4961864A (cs) 1972-06-06 1973-06-05
ES415892A ES415892A1 (es) 1972-06-06 1973-06-06 Perfeccionamientos en las maquinas para suministrar una a una hojas de material flexible dispuestas en una pila.
DD171349A DD105179A5 (cs) 1972-06-06 1973-06-06
IT25198/73A IT990626B (it) 1972-06-06 1973-06-12 Meccanismo per separare pezzi in lavorazione in foglio flessibili impilati

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00260306A US3856294A (en) 1972-06-06 1972-06-06 Mechanism for separating flexible plies from a stack

Publications (1)

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US3856294A true US3856294A (en) 1974-12-24

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00260306A Expired - Lifetime US3856294A (en) 1972-06-06 1972-06-06 Mechanism for separating flexible plies from a stack

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US (1) US3856294A (cs)
JP (1) JPS4961864A (cs)
DD (1) DD105179A5 (cs)
DE (1) DE2328350C3 (cs)
ES (1) ES415892A1 (cs)
FR (1) FR2188578A5 (cs)
GB (1) GB1431344A (cs)
IT (1) IT990626B (cs)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4605216A (en) * 1984-07-24 1986-08-12 General Motors Corporation Material pick-up mechanism
US4858906A (en) * 1988-03-21 1989-08-22 The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. Method and apparatus for manipulating and transporting limp material
US5303910A (en) * 1992-09-10 1994-04-19 Tice Engineering & Sales, Incorporated Pick-up means for use with limp sheet material
CN108045957A (zh) * 2018-01-03 2018-05-18 苏州市王氏电路板有限公司 一种pcb板自动分张装置
US10773902B2 (en) 2016-12-22 2020-09-15 General Electric Company Adaptive apparatus and system for automated handling of components
US10781056B2 (en) 2016-12-22 2020-09-22 General Electric Company Adaptive apparatus and system for automated handling of components
US11648738B2 (en) 2018-10-15 2023-05-16 General Electric Company Systems and methods of automated film removal

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
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

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1442718A (en) * 1920-03-04 1923-01-16 Jones & Laughlin Steel Company Conveyer
US1715358A (en) * 1927-10-01 1929-06-04 Harris Seybold Potter Co Sheet separator
US2215458A (en) * 1936-05-28 1940-09-24 Backhouse Headley Townsend Sheet separating and lifting means
US3298812A (en) * 1962-07-24 1967-01-17 Pilkington Brothers Ltd Mold with vacuum transfer apparatus
US3606304A (en) * 1969-05-02 1971-09-20 Singer Co Material separation devices and methods

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1442718A (en) * 1920-03-04 1923-01-16 Jones & Laughlin Steel Company Conveyer
US1715358A (en) * 1927-10-01 1929-06-04 Harris Seybold Potter Co Sheet separator
US2215458A (en) * 1936-05-28 1940-09-24 Backhouse Headley Townsend Sheet separating and lifting means
US3298812A (en) * 1962-07-24 1967-01-17 Pilkington Brothers Ltd Mold with vacuum transfer apparatus
US3606304A (en) * 1969-05-02 1971-09-20 Singer Co Material separation devices and methods

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4605216A (en) * 1984-07-24 1986-08-12 General Motors Corporation Material pick-up mechanism
US4858906A (en) * 1988-03-21 1989-08-22 The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. Method and apparatus for manipulating and transporting limp material
WO1989009175A1 (en) * 1988-03-21 1989-10-05 The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. Method and apparatus for manipulating and transporting limp material
US5303910A (en) * 1992-09-10 1994-04-19 Tice Engineering & Sales, Incorporated Pick-up means for use with limp sheet material
US10773902B2 (en) 2016-12-22 2020-09-15 General Electric Company Adaptive apparatus and system for automated handling of components
US10781056B2 (en) 2016-12-22 2020-09-22 General Electric Company Adaptive apparatus and system for automated handling of components
CN108045957A (zh) * 2018-01-03 2018-05-18 苏州市王氏电路板有限公司 一种pcb板自动分张装置
US11648738B2 (en) 2018-10-15 2023-05-16 General Electric Company Systems and methods of automated film removal

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU5645273A (en) 1974-12-05
IT990626B (it) 1975-07-10
ES415892A1 (es) 1976-05-16
DE2328350C3 (de) 1976-01-02
FR2188578A5 (cs) 1974-01-18
JPS4961864A (cs) 1974-06-15
DE2328350B2 (de) 1975-05-15
DD105179A5 (cs) 1974-04-12
GB1431344A (en) 1976-04-07
DE2328350A1 (de) 1973-12-20

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