US3768807A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for handling flat, flexible workpieces
Assignee: Stanztechnik Roeder & Spe GmbH
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Filing: 1971-08-04
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Granted: 1973-10-30
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Expires: 1991-08-04
Abstract
Abstract This apparatus handles flat, flexible workpieces, such as pieces of textile coming from or going to a punching machine disposed adjacent to the present handling apparatus. In other words, the workpieces may be stacked or removed from a stack. A movable surface, such as an endless conveyor delivers or receives the workpieces to or from a transfer means passing over the stack. The transfer means, in one embodiment, are parallel rods arranged in groups spaced from each other and rotatably supported at both ends in driven means such as endless chains the direction of movement of which is reversible. In another embodiment, the transfer means is an endless belt which is movable back and forth over the stack. Auxiliary means, such as workpiece retarding bands and/or lifting means may be arranged for cooperation with the transfer means. When a workpiece is deposited, the transfer means are withdrawn from under the workpiece either in the advancing or in the reverse direction whereby the workpiece is gradually deposited on the stack. When the workpieces are removed a leading edge of the top workpiece is lifted, for example, by suction means, and the transfer means glide under the workpiece.
Inventors
- 👤 E Spengler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:17
CPC Classifications
A; A41; A41H; A41H43/00; A41H43/02; A41H43/0207; A41H43/0214; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/10; Y10S414/102; Y10S414/103
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
In a method for handling flat, flexible workpieces including the steps of moving a flat, substantially horizontal transfer surface continuously in a given direction, gradually slidinG each workpiece in succession over an edge of said transfer surface whereby to move the workpiece onto the transfer surface without wrinkling, advancing the transfer surface for moving the workpiece while maintaining it in a substantially flat position and then again gradually sliding the workpiece off the transfer surface over an edge thereof, the improvement comprising contacting the upper surface of a workpiece with moving endless belt means to prevent wrinkling while the lower surface of the workpiece is moved onto the transfer surface, and increasing the surface friction between said upper workpiece surface and said belt means by stopping said belt means whereby said friction between the upper workpiece surface and the belt means is larger than the friction between the lower workpiece surface and the transfer surface to prevent wrinkling when the workpiece slides off the transfer surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
In a method for handling flat, flexible workpieces including the steps of moving a flat, substantially horizontal transfer surface continuously in a given direction, gradually slidinG each workpiece in succession over an edge of said transfer surface whereby to move the workpiece onto the transfer surface without wrinkling, advancing the transfer surface for moving the workpiece while maintaining it in a substantially flat position and then again gradually sliding the workpiece off the transfer surface over an edge thereof, the improvement comprising contacting the upper surface of a workpiece with moving endless belt means to prevent wrinkling while the lower surface of the workpiece is moved onto the transfer surface, and increasing the surface friction between said upper workpiece surface and said belt means by stopping said belt means whereby said friction between the upper workpiece surface and the belt means is larger than the friction between the lower workpiece surface and the transfer surface to prevent wrinkling when the workpiece slides off the transfer surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
197 words
In an apparatus for handling flat, flexible workpieces wherein a stacking table is arranged for cooperation with revolving workpiece transfer surface means having a workpiece take-up portion and a workpiece delivery portion, which surface means are operatively connected to drive means for continuously revolving said transfer surface means which run over guide means for passing the transfer surface means over said stacking table, and wherein workpiece holding means are arranged above said stacking table to cooperate with said transfer surface means in transferring of workpieces when the transfer surface means pass over the stacking table between the workpiece holding means and the stacking table, the improvement comprising endless belt means having a lower run which acts as said workpiece holding means, a pair of rollers for each belt means, means for supporting the pair of rollers with its respective belt means above the endless workpiece transfer surface means to assure a surface contact between said lower run of said endless belt means and the upper workpiece surface, and drive means operatively connected to one roller of a pair of rollers for individually driving and stopping the movement of said belt means when a workpiece is being transferred.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
197 words
In an apparatus for handling flat, flexible workpieces wherein a stacking table is arranged for cooperation with revolving workpiece transfer surface means having a workpiece take-up portion and a workpiece delivery portion, which surface means are operatively connected to drive means for continuously revolving said transfer surface means which run over guide means for passing the transfer surface means over said stacking table, and wherein workpiece holding means are arranged above said stacking table to cooperate with said transfer surface means in transferring of workpieces when the transfer surface means pass over the stacking table between the workpiece holding means and the stacking table, the improvement comprising endless belt means having a lower run which acts as said workpiece holding means, a pair of rollers for each belt means, means for supporting the pair of rollers with its respective belt means above the endless workpiece transfer surface means to assure a surface contact between said lower run of said endless belt means and the upper workpiece surface, and drive means operatively connected to one roller of a pair of rollers for individually driving and stopping the movement of said belt means when a workpiece is being transferred.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of workpiece transfer surfaces, wherein said belt means comprise a plurality of individual belts arranged in rows and columns whereby the belts of adjacent rows are staggered relative to each other, said drive means including individual clutch means for each belt whereby certain belts may successively cooperate with successive ones of said delivery portions of said workpiece transfer surfaces in an overlapping stacking operation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising suction means arranged above said workpiece transfer surface means along an edge of said stacking table and across the transport direction for lifting an edge of a workpiece, and wherein said drive means for said transfer surface means are reversible for reversing the transport direction whereby workpieces may be removed from a stack on said table.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an input conveyor means, guide rollers for said input conveyor means, a swivel arm for supporting said guide rollers, and means for locking said swivel arm in a desired angular position relative to the horizontal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
109 words
The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said workpiece transfer surface means comprise a pair of endless chains arranged in laterally spaced relationship, and groups of rods rotatably connected with their ends to said endless chains, whereby the rods forming a group are closely spaced from each other so that each group of rods forms a workpiece receiving surface, said groups of rods being spaced from each other along said endless chains, and wherein each group of rods also comprises two non-rotating bars one of which is arranged at each end of a group of rotatable rods, at least one of said bars having a wedge shaped cross section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said workpiece transfer surface means comprise an endless conveyor belt, two movable guide rollers for said endless conveyor belt, and drive means connected to said guide rollers for moving said guide rollers along predetermined revolving paths.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said drive means comprise two endless chain drives to which said two guide rollers are attached respectively, and means for moving said chain drives in unison for reciprocating said guide rollers along said paths.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said endless belt means are arranged to cooperate with said endless conveyor belt which forms said transfer surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising guide means for said endless belt means and actuator means for adjusting the position of at least one of said guide means to form a wedge shaped spacing between said movable surface and the endless band cooperating with said movable surface.
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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) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |