Patent US3765672A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3765672A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic feeder for workpiece of fabric or the like
Assignee: Stahl Urban Co
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Filing: 1971-12-20
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Granted: 1973-10-16
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Expires: 1991-12-20
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for automatically feeding workpieces of fabric or similar limp material one after another from a stack of workpieces and delivering each workpiece to a sewing machine for a sewing operation along an edge of the workpiece. The top workpiece of the stack is picked off by means of a roller which rolls up the top workpiece of the stack, advances it to a position spaced from the stack, and then retracts to unroll the workpiece, whereupon a feed device takes over to feed the workpiece into a sewing machine to start the sewing operation. The sewing machine then takes over, and the workpiece is fed through the sewing machine by the feed device of the sewing machine and stitched. In being fed through the sewing machine, the workpiece is automatically guided for contour stitching along an edge thereof. A stacker is provided on the exit side of the sewing machine for automatically stacking completed workpieces exiting from the sewing machine.
Inventors
- 👤 W Conner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:51
CPC Classifications
D; D05; D05B; D05B33/00; D05B33/02; D05B33/006; D05B41/00; D05B65/00; D05D; D05D2207/00; D05D2207/02; D05D2207/04; D05D2209/00; D05D2209/04; D05D2209/06; D05D2209/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
355 words
In apparatus having a machine for operating on workpieces of limp material, means for automatically feeding such workpieces one after another from a stack thereof to and through said machine, comprising a table over which workpieces may be fed to and through said machine, means adjacent one end of the table for holding a stack of workpieces, means for separating and picking up the top workpiece of the stack and delivering it to said table, means for feeding the workpiece over the table to said machine and entering it in said machine with the work-piece in position for being fed through the machine for operation thereon by the machine comprising a gripper engageable with the top of a workpiece on the table, means fOr moving the gripper downwardly from a raised retracted position into engagement with the top of a workpiece delivered to the table and then moving it forwardly and laterally over the table from a rearward retracted position to slide the workpiece forwardly and laterally over the table, said means for separating and picking up the top workpiece of the stack and delivering it to the table comprising means for rolling up the top workpiece of the stack, delivering the rolled-up workpiece to the table, and then unrolling the workpiece, said rolling and unrolling means comprising a roller mounted for rotation on its axis and for translation in the horizontal plane of its axis to roll over the top workpiece of the stack toward and away from the table, said roller having means for initial attachment thereto of the top workpiece so that it is rolled up on the roller as the roller rolls over the top workpiece toward the table, said means for holding the stack being movable upward for engagement of the top workpiece with the roller, the roller being movable between a retracted position over the trailing end portion of the stack and an advanced position over the table, and a workpiece being rolled up on the roller as it moves forward to its advanced position and being unrolled from the roller as it returns to its said retracted position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
355 words
In apparatus having a machine for operating on workpieces of limp material, means for automatically feeding such workpieces one after another from a stack thereof to and through said machine, comprising a table over which workpieces may be fed to and through said machine, means adjacent one end of the table for holding a stack of workpieces, means for separating and picking up the top workpiece of the stack and delivering it to said table, means for feeding the workpiece over the table to said machine and entering it in said machine with the work-piece in position for being fed through the machine for operation thereon by the machine comprising a gripper engageable with the top of a workpiece on the table, means fOr moving the gripper downwardly from a raised retracted position into engagement with the top of a workpiece delivered to the table and then moving it forwardly and laterally over the table from a rearward retracted position to slide the workpiece forwardly and laterally over the table, said means for separating and picking up the top workpiece of the stack and delivering it to the table comprising means for rolling up the top workpiece of the stack, delivering the rolled-up workpiece to the table, and then unrolling the workpiece, said rolling and unrolling means comprising a roller mounted for rotation on its axis and for translation in the horizontal plane of its axis to roll over the top workpiece of the stack toward and away from the table, said roller having means for initial attachment thereto of the top workpiece so that it is rolled up on the roller as the roller rolls over the top workpiece toward the table, said means for holding the stack being movable upward for engagement of the top workpiece with the roller, the roller being movable between a retracted position over the trailing end portion of the stack and an advanced position over the table, and a workpiece being rolled up on the roller as it moves forward to its advanced position and being unrolled from the roller as it returns to its said retracted position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the roller rotates through approximately one revolution in moving from the forward end of the stack to its advanced position over the table.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said gripper is operable to clamp the forward end of the workpiece down against the table as the roller is retracted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for attachment to the roller of the top workpiece comprises pressure-sensitive tape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said roller carries means for holding a supply roll of the tape, a take-up roller for the tape, means guiding the tape from the supply roll internally of said roller to the take-up roller and presenting an exposed portion of the tape for adherence of the top workpiece, and means for intermittently rotating the take-up roller to take up a portion of the tape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for peeling off the top workpiece of a stack of workpieces of relatively limp material, such as cloth, and conveying it to a position spaced from the stack, comprising means for supporting a stack of said workpieces, a roller for rolling up the top workpiece of the stack, means mounting said roller for rotation on its axis and for translatory movement in a direction at right angles to its axis to roll over the top of the stack, said roller having means for initial attachment thereto of the top workpiece of the stack so that it is rolled up on the roller as the roller rolls in a forward direction over the top workpiece, said roller being movable in forward direction beyond the forward end of the stack to an advanced delivery position, and then being movable back in reverse direction to unroll the workpiece.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for peeling off the top workpiece of a stack of workpieces of relatively limp material, such as cloth, and conveying it to a position spaced from the stack, comprising means for supporting a stack of said workpieces, a roller for rolling up the top workpiece of the stack, means mounting said roller for rotation on its axis and for translatory movement in a direction at right angles to its axis to roll over the top of the stack, said roller having means for initial attachment thereto of the top workpiece of the stack so that it is rolled up on the roller as the roller rolls in a forward direction over the top workpiece, said roller being movable in forward direction beyond the forward end of the stack to an advanced delivery position, and then being movable back in reverse direction to unroll the workpiece.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the roller has a retracted position over the rearward end of the stack.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said stack supporting means comprises an elevator platform and having means for biasing said platform upward for engagement of the top of the stack with the roller.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein the platform carries a longitudinal ridge for humping the stack.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 having air jets directed toward the roller for peeling the second workpiece of the stack away from the first workpiece if the former should tend to cling to the latter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for attachment to the roller of the top workpiece comprises pressure-sensitive tape.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 having means for holding the unwound forward end of the workpiece against rearward movement as the roller moves back in reverse direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
294 words
In apparatus having a machine for operating on workpieces of limp material, apparatus for automatically feeding such workpieces one after another from a stack thereof to and through said machine, comprising a table over which workpieces may be fed to and through said machine, means adjacent one end of the table for holding a stack of workpieces, means for separating and picking up the top workpiece of the stack and delivering it to said table, and means for feeding the workpiece over the table to said machine and entering it in said machine with the workpiece in position for being fed through the machine for operation thereon by the machine, said means for separating and picking up the top workpiece of the stack and delivering it to the table comprising means for rolling up the top workpiece of the stack, delivering the rolled-up workpiece to the table, and then unrolling the workpiece, said rolling and unrolling means comprising a roller mounted for rotation on its axis and for translation in the horizontal plane of its axis to roll over the top workpiece of the stack toward and away from the table, said roller having means for initial attachment thereto of the top workpiece so that it is rolled up on the roller as the roller rolls over the top workpiece toward the table, said means for holding the stack being movable upward for engagement of the top workpiece with the roller, the roller being movable between a retracted position over the trailing end portion of the stack and an advanced position over the table, a workpiece being rolled up on the roller as it moves forward to its advanced position and being unrolled from the roller as it returns to its said retracted position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
294 words
In apparatus having a machine for operating on workpieces of limp material, apparatus for automatically feeding such workpieces one after another from a stack thereof to and through said machine, comprising a table over which workpieces may be fed to and through said machine, means adjacent one end of the table for holding a stack of workpieces, means for separating and picking up the top workpiece of the stack and delivering it to said table, and means for feeding the workpiece over the table to said machine and entering it in said machine with the workpiece in position for being fed through the machine for operation thereon by the machine, said means for separating and picking up the top workpiece of the stack and delivering it to the table comprising means for rolling up the top workpiece of the stack, delivering the rolled-up workpiece to the table, and then unrolling the workpiece, said rolling and unrolling means comprising a roller mounted for rotation on its axis and for translation in the horizontal plane of its axis to roll over the top workpiece of the stack toward and away from the table, said roller having means for initial attachment thereto of the top workpiece so that it is rolled up on the roller as the roller rolls over the top workpiece toward the table, said means for holding the stack being movable upward for engagement of the top workpiece with the roller, the roller being movable between a retracted position over the trailing end portion of the stack and an advanced position over the table, a workpiece being rolled up on the roller as it moves forward to its advanced position and being unrolled from the roller as it returns to its said retracted position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein the roller rotates through aproximately one revolution in moving from the forward end of the stack to its advanced position over the table.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 having means for clamping the forward end of the workpiece down against the table as the roller is retracted.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said clamping means is part of the means for feeding the workpiece over the table to said machine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said means for attachment to the roller of the top workpiece comprises pressure-sensitive tape.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said roller carries means for holding a supply roll of the tape, a take-up roller for the tape, means guiding the tape from the supply roll internally of said roller to the take-up roller and presenting an exposed portion of the tape for adherence of the top workpiece, and means for intermittently rotating the take-up roller to take up a portion of the tape.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
147 words
In apparatus comprising a machine for operating on workpieces of limp material, said machine having means for feeding workpieces therethrough, means for automatically feeding such workpieces one after another from a stack thereof to said machine, comprising a table, means adjacent one end of the table for holding a stack of workpieces, means for separating and picking up the top workpiece of the stack and delivering it to the table, pneumatically operated means for feeding said workpiece forwardly and laterally over the table to a position for entry into the machine, and then feeding it forward for entry into the machine and subsequent feeding of the workpiece through the machine by the feeding means of the machine, said pneumatically operated means including an air jet sensor for sensing the arrival of the workpiece, when moved laterally, at the appropriate lateral position thereof for entry into the machine.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
147 words
In apparatus comprising a machine for operating on workpieces of limp material, said machine having means for feeding workpieces therethrough, means for automatically feeding such workpieces one after another from a stack thereof to said machine, comprising a table, means adjacent one end of the table for holding a stack of workpieces, means for separating and picking up the top workpiece of the stack and delivering it to the table, pneumatically operated means for feeding said workpiece forwardly and laterally over the table to a position for entry into the machine, and then feeding it forward for entry into the machine and subsequent feeding of the workpiece through the machine by the feeding means of the machine, said pneumatically operated means including an air jet sensor for sensing the arrival of the workpiece, when moved laterally, at the appropriate lateral position thereof for entry into the machine.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
190 words
In apparatus comprising a machine for operating on workpieces of limp material, said machine having means for feeding workpieces therethrough, means for automatically feeding such workpieces one after another from a stack thereof to said machine, comprising a table, means adjacent one end of the Table for holding a stack of workpieces, means for separating and picking up the top workpiece of the stack and delivering it to the table, pneumatically operated means for feeding the workpiece forward over the table to a first position wherein it is located longitudinally for entry into the machine but offset laterally from a second position for entry into the machine, then feeding the workpiece laterally to its said second position, and then feeding the workpiece forward from its said second position for entry into the machine and subsequent feeding of the workpiece through the machine by the feeding means of the machine, said pneumatically operated means including an air jet sensor for sensing the arrival of the workpiece at its said second position, the leading end of said workpiece, when it is fed to its said first position, being forward of said sensor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
190 words
In apparatus comprising a machine for operating on workpieces of limp material, said machine having means for feeding workpieces therethrough, means for automatically feeding such workpieces one after another from a stack thereof to said machine, comprising a table, means adjacent one end of the Table for holding a stack of workpieces, means for separating and picking up the top workpiece of the stack and delivering it to the table, pneumatically operated means for feeding the workpiece forward over the table to a first position wherein it is located longitudinally for entry into the machine but offset laterally from a second position for entry into the machine, then feeding the workpiece laterally to its said second position, and then feeding the workpiece forward from its said second position for entry into the machine and subsequent feeding of the workpiece through the machine by the feeding means of the machine, said pneumatically operated means including an air jet sensor for sensing the arrival of the workpiece at its said second position, the leading end of said workpiece, when it is fed to its said first position, being forward of said sensor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
149 words
In apparatus having a machine for operating on workpieces of limp material, a table over which workpieces may be fed to and through said machine, and means for feeding workpieces over the table to the machine entering it in said machine with the workpiece in position for being fed through the machine for operation thereon by the machine, said feeding means comprising gripping means engageable with the top of a workpiece on the table, means for lowering the gripping means from a raised retracted position into engagement with the top of a workpiece on the table, means for moving the gripping means when lowered and engaging a workpiece to move the workpiece over the table to enter it in the machine, and means controlled by the workpiece for sensing its position on the table and controlling said moving means to effect alignment of the workpiece relative to said machine.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
149 words
In apparatus having a machine for operating on workpieces of limp material, a table over which workpieces may be fed to and through said machine, and means for feeding workpieces over the table to the machine entering it in said machine with the workpiece in position for being fed through the machine for operation thereon by the machine, said feeding means comprising gripping means engageable with the top of a workpiece on the table, means for lowering the gripping means from a raised retracted position into engagement with the top of a workpiece on the table, means for moving the gripping means when lowered and engaging a workpiece to move the workpiece over the table to enter it in the machine, and means controlled by the workpiece for sensing its position on the table and controlling said moving means to effect alignment of the workpiece relative to said machine.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
In apparatus as set forth in claim 21, second means controlled by the workpiece for sensing and terminating its entry into the machine.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
In apparatus as set forth in claim 22, means controlled by one of said sensing means for starting said machine.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
In apparatus as set forth in claim 23, said starting means being controlled by the first sensing means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
In apparatus as set forth in claim 24, means controlled by said second sensing means for stopping said machine when the workpiece has been fed through the machine.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
59 words
In apparatus as set forth in claim 26, said means for moving the gripping means being operable to move it laterally to position it for entry in the machine, and then forwardly to enter it in the machine, said sensing means being responsive to the lateral feed of the workpiece to a position of alignment relative to the machine.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
In apparatus as set forth in claim 21, said means for moving the gripping means being pneumatically operated, and said sensing means comprising an air jet sensor.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
49 words
In apparatus as set forth in claim 21, means adjacent one end of the table for holding a stack of workpieces, and means for separating and picking up the top workpiece of the stack and delivering it to said table for delivery to said machine by said gripping means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
103 words
In apparatus as set forth in claim 28, said means for moving the gripping means being operable to move it forward to a first position wherein it is located longitudinally for entry into the machine but offset laterally from a second position for entry into the machine, then feeding the workpiece laterally to its said second position, and then feeding the workpiece forward from its said second position for entry into the machine and subsequent feeding of the workpiece through the machine, said sensing means being responsive to the lateral feed of the workpiece to a position of alignment relative to the machine.
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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) | 1976-10-15 | 1977-04-16 | 1977-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-15 | 1981-04-16 | 1981-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-15 | 1985-04-16 | 1985-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |