Pickup and transfer device

Claim 2

An automatically operable apparatus for picking up fabric workpieces from a first position and transferring said workpieces to a second position, said apparatus comprising, a frame, an arm rotatably mounted in said frame for movement between said first and second positions, adhesive means mounted on said arm, means for bringing a workpiece into adhesive contact with said adhesive means at said first position, means for rotating said arm between said first and second positions, means for disengaging said workpiece from said adhesive means at said second position, said disengaging means comprising a conveyor located at said second position and means for engaging said workpiece with said conveyor; and means for cyclically operating said rotating means, said disengaging means and said means for bringing a workpiece into contact with said adhesive means.

Claim 3

An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said adhesive means is an adhesive tape.

Claim 4

An apparatus as described in claim 2 including a pair of reels mounted on said arm for respectively supplying and receiving said tape, and guide means for directing said tape about said arm means between said reels and for positioning said tape to contact a workpiece between said reels.

Claim 5

An apparatus as described in claim 3 including, means for advancing said tape from said supply reel to said receiving reel.

Claim 6

An apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said means for bringing the workpiece into adhesive contact with said adhesive means comprises a lifting bar mounted at said first position for reciprocal movement towards and away from said arm.

Claim 7

An apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein said means for rotating said projection comprises an electric motor.

Claim 8

An automatically operable apparatus for picking up and transferring fabric workpieces comprising an arm extending from said apparatus, an adhesive tape, means for guiding said adhesive tape around said arm, a first reel for supplying said tape and a second reel for taking up said tape, a first motor for driving said second reel for advancing and taking up said tape, a means for raising the workpiece to place said workpiece into adhesive contact with said tape, a second motor for rotating said arm from one position to another, means for cyclically controlling said motors and said raising means, and a wheel actuated for engaging said workpiece against a moving conveyor to disengage the workpiece from adhesive contact with said tape, and means for cyclically controlling the actuation of said wheel.

Claim 9

An automatically operable apparatus for picking up and transferring fabric workpieces comprising an arm extending from said apparatus, an adhesive tape, means for guiding said adhesive tape around said arm, a first reel for supplying said tape and a second reel for taking up said tape, a first motor for driving said second reel for advancing and taking up said tape, a means for raising the workpiece to place said workpiece into adhesive contact with said tape, a second motor for rotating said arm from one position to another, means for cyclically controlling said motors and said raising means, and a wheel actuated for engaging said workpiece against a moving conveyor to disengage the workpiece from adhesive contact with said tape, and means for cyclically controlling the actuation of said wheel.

Claim 10

An automatically operable apparatus for picking up a fabric workpiece at a first position and transferring said workpiece to a second position, said apparatus comprising a frame, an arm rotatably mounted on said frame for movement between said first and second positions, an adhesive tape supply reel and an adhesive tape takeup reel respectively rotatably mounted on said arm, an adhesive tape operatively connected to and extending between said reels, guide means mounted on said arm for guiding said tape between said reels and positioning said tape to contact a workpiece at said first position, at a location on said tape between said reels, a first motor for rotating said takeup reel to advance said tape along said arm from said supply reel to said takeup reel, means for raising a workpiece at said first position into adhesive contact with said tape at said location thereon between said reels, a second motor for rotating said arm between said first and second positions, means for disengaging said workpiece from said tape at said second position and means for cyclically operating said motors and said raising means.

Claim 11

An automatically operable apparatus for picking up a fabric workpiece at a first position and transferring said workpiece to a second position, said apparatus comprising a frame, an arm rotatably mounted on said frame for movement between said first and second positions, an adhesive tape supply reel and an adhesive tape takeup reel respectively rotatably mounted on said arm, an adhesive tape operatively connected to and extending between said reels, guide means mounted on said arm for guiding said tape between said reels and positioning said tape to contact a workpiece at said first position, at a location on said tape between said reels, a first motor for rotating said takeup reel to advance said tape along said arm from said supply reel to said takeup reel, means for raising a workpiece at said first position into adhesive contact with said tape at said location thereon between said reels, a second motor for rotating said arm between said first and second positions, means for disengaging said workpiece from said tape at said second position and means for cyclically operating said motors and said raising means.

Claim 12

Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said disengaging means includes a conveyor located at said second position and cyclically operable means for engaging a workpiece at said second position against said conveyor whereby said workpiece is pulled by said conveyor from said tape.

Claim 13

Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said engaging means comprises a freely rotatable wheel mounted for cyclical movement between a position adjacent said conveyor wherein the wheel engages a workpiece against the conveyor and a second position wherein the wheel is spaced from said conveyor.

Claim 14

Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said supply and takeup reels are mounted for rotation along a common axis.

Claim 15

Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said means for bringing the workpiece into adhesive contact with said adhesive means comprises a lifting bar mounted at said first position for reciprocal movement towards and away from said arm.

Claim 16

Apparatus as defined in claim 10 including means for reversing the direction of said second motor.

Claim 17

Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said second motor comprises a two winding reversible AC motor and said reversing means comprises a set of relays and switches which act to alternately ground the two motor windings.