US3601393A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for treating fabric workpieces in sequence at a plurality of work stations
Assignee: Ivanhoe Research Corp
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Filing: 1969-11-19
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Granted: 1971-08-24
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Expires: 1989-11-19
Abstract
Abstract A transfer module for transferring fabric workpieces from one workstation to another along a low friction surface, including an arm swingable forward and back with friction gripping means carried by the arm and engageable with the workpieces to slide and orient the workpieces relative to a series of workstations. The arm is shown including a parallel linkage.
Inventors
- 👤 George F Hawley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:11
CPC Classifications
A; A41; A41H; A41H42/00; D; D05; D05B; D05B33/00; D05D; D05D2207/00; D05D2207/02; D05D2207/04; D05D2305/00; D05D2305/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A transfer module for transferring fabric workpieces from one station to another station in a production line by sliding the workpieces along a low-friction surface, said transfer module comprising a base, arm means mounted on said base, frictiongripping means carried by said arm means adapted to provide a high friction engagement with workpieces on said surface, said arm means being mounted in movable relationship with respect to said base for motion down toward said surface and up away therefrom, said arm means also being swingable forward and back generally parallel with said surface, and drive means mounted on said base and moving said arm means from an initial position down toward said surface for engaging said friction-gripping means with a fabric workpiece at said one station, said drive means swinging said arm means in a forward stroke for transferring said workpiece to the other station and moving said arm means up away from said surface for disengaging said friction-gripping means from the workpiece at said other station, and said drive means swinging said arm means back in a return stroke to the initial position in readiness to engage another workpiece at said one station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
A transfer module for transferring fabric workpieces from one station to another station in a production line by sliding the workpieces along a low-friction surface, said transfer module comprising a base, arm means mounted on said base, frictiongripping means carried by said arm means adapted to provide a high friction engagement with workpieces on said surface, said arm means being mounted in movable relationship with respect to said base for motion down toward said surface and up away therefrom, said arm means also being swingable forward and back generally parallel with said surface, and drive means mounted on said base and moving said arm means from an initial position down toward said surface for engaging said friction-gripping means with a fabric workpiece at said one station, said drive means swinging said arm means in a forward stroke for transferring said workpiece to the other station and moving said arm means up away from said surface for disengaging said friction-gripping means from the workpiece at said other station, and said drive means swinging said arm means back in a return stroke to the initial position in readiness to engage another workpiece at said one station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
A transfer module as claimed in claim 1, and wherein said friction-gripping means are mounted on said arm means for turning movement relative to said arm means, and mechanism for turning said friction-gripping means relative to said arm means as said arm means are being swung in their forward stroke for providing a predetermined orientation of the workpiece as it is being transferred from one station to another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A transfer module as claimed in claim 2, and wherein said friction-gripping means produce combined translation and rotation of the workpiece as it is being transferred from one station to another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
A transfer module as claimed in claim 1, and wherein said arm means include a parallelogram linkage, said friction-gripping means being controlled by said parallelogram linkage to remain parallel to its initial orientation in spite of the swinging motion of said arm means, thereby to maintain the workpiece in the same orientation as it is transferred from one station to another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
84 words
A transfer module as claimed In claim 1, in which said arm means are connected by pivot means to said base for swinging movement toward and away from said surface, said pivot means being located closely adjacent to said surface to provide travel of said friction-gripping means in a direction substantially perpendicular to said surface during engagement and disengagement between said friction-gripping means and the workpiece, thereby to prevent accidental lateral displacement of the workpiece during said engagement and disengagement at the respective stations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
81 words
A transfer module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a cam plate connected to said arm means, said cam plate having a contoured slot, a revolving driver element engaging in said contoured slot for swinging said arm means forward and back in the advance and return stroke, and elevator cam means detachably mounted on said base for raising and lowering said driver element to provide the motion of said arm means toward and away from said base.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A transfer module as claimed in claim 1, in which said arm means are adjustable in length for adjusting the transfer stroke.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1884947A
Cited
US2577084A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-23 | 1975-02-22 | 1975-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-23 | 1979-02-22 | 1979-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-23 | 1983-02-22 | 1983-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |