US3620525A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Production system for treating fabric workpieces in sequence at a plurality of work stations
Assignee: Ivanhoe Research Corp
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Filing: 1969-11-24
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Granted: 1971-11-16
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Expires: 1989-11-24
Abstract
Abstract A production system for automatically performing a sequence of work operations upon a plurality of fabric workpieces. Each successive workpiece is registered in an initial known position and then is transferred while controlling its position to a first work station to have a predetermined work operation performed at the first work station. The workpiece is successively transferred from the first work station to a second work station while being simultaneously rotated into a different angular orientation relative to the initial registered position and being controlled so as to position the workpiece in a predetermined relationship relative to the second work station, A further operation is performed on each workpiece at the second station and the treated workpieces are delivered in succession from the second work station. An incremental work performing system is described for fabric work pieces which performs increments of an operation; such as creasing at a sequence of work stations for completing the operation automatically while accommodating size changes in the workpiece without corresponding changes in the tooling size. The workpieces may be automatically registered at each workstation and they are moved and controlled in position during movement by a suction lifting clamp and by the differential in friction between the low friction supporting surface engaging the lower face of the workpiece and a high friction movable clamp engaging its upper face, the clamps being controlled in position and angular orientation.
Inventors
- 👤 George F Hawley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:25
CPC Classifications
A; A41; A41H; A41H42/00; D; D05; D05B; D05B33/00; D05D; D05D2207/00; D05D2207/02; D05D2207/04; D05D2305/00; D05D2305/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S493/00; Y10S493/937
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A production system for automatically performing a sequence of operations on a plurality of fabric workpieces comprising a plurality of work stations, registering means for locating each successive workpiece in an initial known position, transferring means for placing each successive workpiece into a first work station including means for controlling the workpiece so as to maintain it in a predetermined registered relationship relative to said initial known position, work operation means for performing a predetermined operation on each successive registered workpiece at said first work station, transferring means for moving each workpiece in succession from said first work station including means for simultaneously rotating it into a different angular orientation with respect to its initial registered position and its position at said first work station, further including means for maintaining the workpiece in a predetermined registered relationship relative to said known position and said second work station, work operation means for performing a further operation on each successive registered workpiece at said second work station, and transfer means for deliveriNg the treated workpieces in succession from said second work station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A production system for automatically performing a sequence of operations on a plurality of fabric workpieces comprising a plurality of work stations, registering means for locating each successive workpiece in an initial known position, transferring means for placing each successive workpiece into a first work station including means for controlling the workpiece so as to maintain it in a predetermined registered relationship relative to said initial known position, work operation means for performing a predetermined operation on each successive registered workpiece at said first work station, transferring means for moving each workpiece in succession from said first work station including means for simultaneously rotating it into a different angular orientation with respect to its initial registered position and its position at said first work station, further including means for maintaining the workpiece in a predetermined registered relationship relative to said known position and said second work station, work operation means for performing a further operation on each successive registered workpiece at said second work station, and transfer means for deliveriNg the treated workpieces in succession from said second work station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
A production system for automatically performing a sequence of operations on a plurality of fabric workpieces as claimed in claim 1 wherein the transferring means for moving each workpiece from said first work station to said second work station and the means for rotating the workpiece with respect to said known position are cooperatively associated so that the actions thereof are simultaneously incrementally combined so that each workpiece arrives at said second work station with the desired angular orientation relative to said known position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
190 words
A production system for creasing the edges of a plurality of fabric workpieces of different sizes to accommodate differences in sizes of the respective workpieces comprising a plurality of creasing stations, initial registering means for locating said workpieces in an initial known position, first transferring means for moving the workpieces in sequence to a first of said creasing stations, means for creasing a corresponding portion of their respective edges in said first creasing station, second transferring means for moving the workpieces in said sequence from said first creasing station into a second of said creasing stations including means for rotating the workpiece incrementally during transfer so that each workpiece arrives at said second creasing station with the desired angular orientation relative to said second work station, additional registering means for locating each workpiece in a known position at said second creasing station, means for creasing another portion of their respective edges in said second creasing station to complete the creasing of their edges, and third transferring means for moving the workpieces out of said second creasing station, whereby the desired edges of a sequence of workpieces may be automatically creased.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
190 words
A production system for creasing the edges of a plurality of fabric workpieces of different sizes to accommodate differences in sizes of the respective workpieces comprising a plurality of creasing stations, initial registering means for locating said workpieces in an initial known position, first transferring means for moving the workpieces in sequence to a first of said creasing stations, means for creasing a corresponding portion of their respective edges in said first creasing station, second transferring means for moving the workpieces in said sequence from said first creasing station into a second of said creasing stations including means for rotating the workpiece incrementally during transfer so that each workpiece arrives at said second creasing station with the desired angular orientation relative to said second work station, additional registering means for locating each workpiece in a known position at said second creasing station, means for creasing another portion of their respective edges in said second creasing station to complete the creasing of their edges, and third transferring means for moving the workpieces out of said second creasing station, whereby the desired edges of a sequence of workpieces may be automatically creased.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
187 words
A production system for incrementally creasing the contoured edges of a plurality of fabric workpieces of different sizes to accommodate differences in sizes of the respective workpieces comprising a plurality of creasing stations, positioning means for locating the workpieces in sequence in a first of said creasing stations, first means for creasing a first increment of the edge portion of each workpiece against the body thereof in said first creasing station, initial transferring means for moving the workpieces in sequence from said first creasing station into a second of said creasing stations including means for simultaneously incrementally rotating the workpieces into a different angular orientation so as to be completely orientated upon arrival at said second creasing station, second means for creasing another increment of the edge portion of the workpiece respective edge back against the body thereof in said second creasing station to complete the creasing of their edges, and additional transferring means for moving the workpieces out of said second creasing station, whereby the desired edges of a sequence of workpieces may be automatically creased in spite of differences in sizes of the respective workpieces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
187 words
A production system for incrementally creasing the contoured edges of a plurality of fabric workpieces of different sizes to accommodate differences in sizes of the respective workpieces comprising a plurality of creasing stations, positioning means for locating the workpieces in sequence in a first of said creasing stations, first means for creasing a first increment of the edge portion of each workpiece against the body thereof in said first creasing station, initial transferring means for moving the workpieces in sequence from said first creasing station into a second of said creasing stations including means for simultaneously incrementally rotating the workpieces into a different angular orientation so as to be completely orientated upon arrival at said second creasing station, second means for creasing another increment of the edge portion of the workpiece respective edge back against the body thereof in said second creasing station to complete the creasing of their edges, and additional transferring means for moving the workpieces out of said second creasing station, whereby the desired edges of a sequence of workpieces may be automatically creased in spite of differences in sizes of the respective workpieces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system for creasing the contoured edge of a fabric workpiece as claimed in claim 4 wherein said initial transferring means includes a high friction grip means to engage the top of the workpiece and to slide the workpiece upon a low friction surface while simultaneously imparting a rotational movement thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
230 words
A production system for automatically performing a sequence of operations on a plurality of fabric workpieces comprising first edge stop means in a known position, first force impulse applying means for registering the edge of each workpiece in succession against said first stop means, first transferring means for moving said workpiece into a first work station, a first means for performing a work operation on a first predetermined portion of each successive registered workpiece at said first work station, second transferring means for moving each workpiece in sucCession from said first work station to a second work station, second edge stop means in a known position at said second work station, a second force impulse applying means for registering a second predetermined edge portion of each workpiece with respect to said second stop means and a second means for performing a second work operation on each workpiece, third transferring means for moving each workpiece in succession from said second work station to a third work station, third edge stop means in a known position at said third work station a third force impulse applying means for registering a third predetermined edge portion of each workpiece with respect to said third stop means and a third means for performing a third work operation on, each workpiece and transfer means for delivering the treated workpieces in succession from said third work station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
230 words
A production system for automatically performing a sequence of operations on a plurality of fabric workpieces comprising first edge stop means in a known position, first force impulse applying means for registering the edge of each workpiece in succession against said first stop means, first transferring means for moving said workpiece into a first work station, a first means for performing a work operation on a first predetermined portion of each successive registered workpiece at said first work station, second transferring means for moving each workpiece in sucCession from said first work station to a second work station, second edge stop means in a known position at said second work station, a second force impulse applying means for registering a second predetermined edge portion of each workpiece with respect to said second stop means and a second means for performing a second work operation on each workpiece, third transferring means for moving each workpiece in succession from said second work station to a third work station, third edge stop means in a known position at said third work station a third force impulse applying means for registering a third predetermined edge portion of each workpiece with respect to said third stop means and a third means for performing a third work operation on, each workpiece and transfer means for delivering the treated workpieces in succession from said third work station.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
198 words
A production system for performing a sequence of operations on a fabric workpiece comprising registering means for locating the workpieces in a known position, first transferring means for moving the workpiece into a first work station including means for controlling the workpiece to maintain it in registry, first work performing means for performing an operation on the workpiece at said first work station, second transferring means for moving the workpiece from said first work station including means for simultaneously turning it into a different angular orientation during transfer to arrive at said second work station properly oriented with respect to said known position, second work performing means for performing an operation on the workpiece at the second station, and third transferring means for moving the workpiece from said second station to a further station including means for simultaneously rotating said workpiece and turning it into a different angular orientation during transfer to arrive at said further station properly oriented with respect to said known position, said transferring and rotating means having a high friction grip which engages the top of the workpiece to move the workpiece relative to a low friction supporting surface by sliding said workpiece therealong.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
198 words
A production system for performing a sequence of operations on a fabric workpiece comprising registering means for locating the workpieces in a known position, first transferring means for moving the workpiece into a first work station including means for controlling the workpiece to maintain it in registry, first work performing means for performing an operation on the workpiece at said first work station, second transferring means for moving the workpiece from said first work station including means for simultaneously turning it into a different angular orientation during transfer to arrive at said second work station properly oriented with respect to said known position, second work performing means for performing an operation on the workpiece at the second station, and third transferring means for moving the workpiece from said second station to a further station including means for simultaneously rotating said workpiece and turning it into a different angular orientation during transfer to arrive at said further station properly oriented with respect to said known position, said transferring and rotating means having a high friction grip which engages the top of the workpiece to move the workpiece relative to a low friction supporting surface by sliding said workpiece therealong.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
166 words
A production system for continuously performing a sequence of operations on a plurality of fabric workpieces comprising a plurality of work stations, registering means for locating each successive workpiece in an initially known position, transferring means for sliding each successive registered workpiece into a first work station including means gripping it so as to position it in a predetermined registered relationship relative to said work station, work performing means for performing a predetermined operation on each successive registered workpiece at said first work station, additional transferring means for sliding each workpiece in succession from said first work station to a second work station including means for simultaneously rotating it, said additional transferring means includes gripping means to provide the workpiece with a different angular orientation with respect to its initial registered position, additional work performing means for performing a further operation on each successive registered workpiece at said second work station and transfer means for delivering the treated workpieces in succession from said second work station.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
166 words
A production system for continuously performing a sequence of operations on a plurality of fabric workpieces comprising a plurality of work stations, registering means for locating each successive workpiece in an initially known position, transferring means for sliding each successive registered workpiece into a first work station including means gripping it so as to position it in a predetermined registered relationship relative to said work station, work performing means for performing a predetermined operation on each successive registered workpiece at said first work station, additional transferring means for sliding each workpiece in succession from said first work station to a second work station including means for simultaneously rotating it, said additional transferring means includes gripping means to provide the workpiece with a different angular orientation with respect to its initial registered position, additional work performing means for performing a further operation on each successive registered workpiece at said second work station and transfer means for delivering the treated workpieces in succession from said second work station.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
167 words
A production system for continuously performing a sequence of operations on a plurality of fabric workpieces comprising a plurality of work stations, registering means for locating each successive workpiece in an initially known position, transferring means for lifting each successive registered workpiece into a first work station including means for gripping the workpiece so as to position it in a predetermined registered relationship relative to said work station, work performing means for performing a predetermined operation on each successive registered workpiece at said first work station, additional transferring means for lifting each workpiece in succession from said first work station to a second station including means for simultaneously rotating it to provide the workpiece with a different angular orientation with respect to its initial registered position, said additional transferring means including gripping means, additional work performing means for performing a further operation on each successive registered workpiece at said second work station and transfer means for delivering the treated workpieces in succession from said second work station.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
167 words
A production system for continuously performing a sequence of operations on a plurality of fabric workpieces comprising a plurality of work stations, registering means for locating each successive workpiece in an initially known position, transferring means for lifting each successive registered workpiece into a first work station including means for gripping the workpiece so as to position it in a predetermined registered relationship relative to said work station, work performing means for performing a predetermined operation on each successive registered workpiece at said first work station, additional transferring means for lifting each workpiece in succession from said first work station to a second station including means for simultaneously rotating it to provide the workpiece with a different angular orientation with respect to its initial registered position, said additional transferring means including gripping means, additional work performing means for performing a further operation on each successive registered workpiece at said second work station and transfer means for delivering the treated workpieces in succession from said second work station.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
207 words
A production system for continuously performing a sequence of operations on a plurality of fabric workpieces of various sizes comprising a plurality of work stations, registering means for locating each successive workpiece in an initial known position, each of said work stations including a remote gripper having an adjustable transfer stroke, a first of said grippers sliding each successive registered workpiece into a first work station to position it in a predetermined registered relationship relative to said first work station, work performing means for performing a predetermined operation on each successive registered workpiece at said first station, a second of said respective grippers for engaging each workpiece and sliding it in succession from said first work station to a second work station and means for rotating said gripper whereby said workpiece is turned incrementally into a different angular orientation with respect to its initial registered position to arrive at said second work station with a predetermined registered relationship relative to said second work station, additional work performing means for performing a further operation on each successive registered workpiece at said second work station, and transfer means for delivering the treated workpiece successively from said second work station, said remote grippers including means for readjusting the transfer stroke.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
207 words
A production system for continuously performing a sequence of operations on a plurality of fabric workpieces of various sizes comprising a plurality of work stations, registering means for locating each successive workpiece in an initial known position, each of said work stations including a remote gripper having an adjustable transfer stroke, a first of said grippers sliding each successive registered workpiece into a first work station to position it in a predetermined registered relationship relative to said first work station, work performing means for performing a predetermined operation on each successive registered workpiece at said first station, a second of said respective grippers for engaging each workpiece and sliding it in succession from said first work station to a second work station and means for rotating said gripper whereby said workpiece is turned incrementally into a different angular orientation with respect to its initial registered position to arrive at said second work station with a predetermined registered relationship relative to said second work station, additional work performing means for performing a further operation on each successive registered workpiece at said second work station, and transfer means for delivering the treated workpiece successively from said second work station, said remote grippers including means for readjusting the transfer stroke.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
207 words
A production system for continuously performing a sequence of operations on a plurality of fabric workpieces of various sizes comprising a plurality of work stations, registering means for locating each successive workpiece in an initial known position, a remote gripper having an adjustable transfer stroke for each of said work stations, a first of said grippers for lifting each successive registered workpiece into a first work station to position it in a predetermined registered relationship relative to said first work station, work performing means for performing a predetermined operation on each successive registered workpiece at said first station, a second of said respective grippers for engaging and lifting each workpiece in succession from said first work station to a second work station and means for rotating said gripper whereby said workpiece is turned incrementally into a different angular orientation with respect to its initial registered position to arrive at said second work station with a predetermined registered relationship relative to said second work station, additional work performing means for performing a further operation on each successive registered workpiece at said second work station, and transfer means for delivering the treated workpiece successively from said second work station, said remote grippers including means for readjusting the transfer stroke.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
207 words
A production system for continuously performing a sequence of operations on a plurality of fabric workpieces of various sizes comprising a plurality of work stations, registering means for locating each successive workpiece in an initial known position, a remote gripper having an adjustable transfer stroke for each of said work stations, a first of said grippers for lifting each successive registered workpiece into a first work station to position it in a predetermined registered relationship relative to said first work station, work performing means for performing a predetermined operation on each successive registered workpiece at said first station, a second of said respective grippers for engaging and lifting each workpiece in succession from said first work station to a second work station and means for rotating said gripper whereby said workpiece is turned incrementally into a different angular orientation with respect to its initial registered position to arrive at said second work station with a predetermined registered relationship relative to said second work station, additional work performing means for performing a further operation on each successive registered workpiece at said second work station, and transfer means for delivering the treated workpiece successively from said second work station, said remote grippers including means for readjusting the transfer stroke.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
224 words
A production system for automatically performing a sequence of operations on a succession of fabric workpieces comprising a plurality of work performing means located at a plurality of work performing stations, transfer means for moving the workpieces in succession along a predetermined path extending through each of said work stations, first edge stop means located at a first fixed predetermined position in one of said work stations, first force impulse applying means for impelling the edge of each workpiece in succession against said first edge stop means for bringing each workpiece into a first predetermined registered position at said one work station in preparation for work to be performed thereon iN said one work station, means for changing the orientation of each workpiece following said one work station, second edge stop means located at a second fixed predetermined position in a second work station following said one work station, said second predetermined position being at a different orientation from said first predetermined position, second force impulse applying means for impelling the edge of each workpiece in succession against said second edge stop means for bringing each workpiece into a second predetermined registered position at said second work station in preparation for work to be performed thereon in said second work station, whereby a sequence of operations are performed automatically on a succession of workpieces.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
224 words
A production system for automatically performing a sequence of operations on a succession of fabric workpieces comprising a plurality of work performing means located at a plurality of work performing stations, transfer means for moving the workpieces in succession along a predetermined path extending through each of said work stations, first edge stop means located at a first fixed predetermined position in one of said work stations, first force impulse applying means for impelling the edge of each workpiece in succession against said first edge stop means for bringing each workpiece into a first predetermined registered position at said one work station in preparation for work to be performed thereon iN said one work station, means for changing the orientation of each workpiece following said one work station, second edge stop means located at a second fixed predetermined position in a second work station following said one work station, said second predetermined position being at a different orientation from said first predetermined position, second force impulse applying means for impelling the edge of each workpiece in succession against said second edge stop means for bringing each workpiece into a second predetermined registered position at said second work station in preparation for work to be performed thereon in said second work station, whereby a sequence of operations are performed automatically on a succession of workpieces.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-15 | 1975-05-17 | 1975-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-15 | 1979-05-17 | 1979-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-15 | 1983-05-17 | 1983-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |