Patent US4009786A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4009786A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and apparatus for handling fabric workpieces
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-11-12
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Granted: 1977-03-01
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Expires: 1995-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A device for transferring a preselected number of sheets of material from several stacks and depositing the sheets at a location. The device comprises a pick-up head which is adjustable on selection to pick up from a first location one or two sheets, pick up one or two sheets from a second location and deposit the assembly of sheets at another location or feed same through a processing machine.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Joseph Littlewood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 04:04
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H3/00; B65H3/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A pick-up device for assembling a preselected number of sheets from several stacks thereof comprising a body member having a sheet engaging surface, a plurality of pointed members slidably mounted in said body member and adapted to extend outwardly at an acute angle to and beyond said engaging surface for sequential engagement with at least one sheet in each stack so as to provide a predetermined assembly of sheets from said stacks for transfer to a processing station, and actuating means in said body member adjustably movable with respect to said pointed members for limiting the extension of said pointed members so as to control the number of sheets engaged in each stack.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A pick-up device for assembling a preselected number of sheets from several stacks thereof comprising a body member having a sheet engaging surface, a plurality of pointed members slidably mounted in said body member and adapted to extend outwardly at an acute angle to and beyond said engaging surface for sequential engagement with at least one sheet in each stack so as to provide a predetermined assembly of sheets from said stacks for transfer to a processing station, and actuating means in said body member adjustably movable with respect to said pointed members for limiting the extension of said pointed members so as to control the number of sheets engaged in each stack.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A pick-up device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises at least one fluid pressure actuated tapered plunger means the extent of movement of which is controlled by adjustable cam means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A pick-up device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pointed members are annularly arranged in said sheet engaging surface of said body member and are spring biassed inwardly in the body member and engageable at their inner ends by said actuating means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
A pick-up device in accordance with claim 3 which further includes annular pressure pad means biassed outwardly from said sheet engaging surface of the device and located within said annular array of pointed members, said pressure pad means being operable to assist in the penetration of the pointed members with engaged articles as the device is moved from a stack and to assist in the separation of the engaged at least one sheet from the sheets left in the stack.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
A pick-up device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the limitation of extension of said pointed member is controlled by a cam ring on said body member engageable with a radially movable pin member in said body member which in turn is engageable with said actuating means so as to limit movement thereof towards the said sheet engaging surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
202 words
A pick-up device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pointed members comprise an annular array of needles spring biassed inwardly in the body member and engageable at their inner ends by said actuating means, and said actuating means comprise first and second plunger members slidably mounted in said body member on a common axis and having associated diaphragm members at the plunger ends remote from said sheet engaging surface defining three chambers separately connected to a fluid pressure source whereby pressure selectively applied to one of said chambers moves the first plunger member into engagement with the second plunger member which in turn engages with and extends said pointed members, pressure applied to a second of said chambers acts on said second plunger member to further extend the pointed members, and pressure applied to the third chamber assists in moving said plunger members in a direction away from said pointed members, the opposite ends of the plunger members having inwardly tapered surfaces adapted to be engaged by radially extending pins so as to limit the movement of the plungers against said pointed members, the extension of said pin members being controlled by adjustable cam ring members mounted on said body member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
A pick-up device in accordance with claim 6 and further including annular pressure pad means biassed outwardly from said sheet engaging surface of the device and located within said annular array of pointed needles, said pressure pad means being operable to assist in the penetration of the pointed members with engaged articles as the device is moved from a stack and to assist in the separation of the engaged at least one sheet from the sheets left in the stack.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
162 words
The method of transferring a preselected number of sheets of material from several locations to a processing machine including the steps of picking up a preselected number of sheets from a stack of cut materials with a device comprising a body member having a sheet engaging surface, a plurality of pointed members slidably mounted in said body member and adapted to extend outwardly at an acute angle to and beyond said engaging surface for sequential engagement with said preselected number of sheets in each stack so as to provide a predetermined assembly of sheets from said stacks for transfer to a processing station, and actuating means in said body member adjustably movable with respect to said pointed members for limiting the extension of said pointed members so as to control the number of sheets engaged in each stack and, picking up at least one further sheet from at least one further stack, and depositing said assembly of sheets at a further location.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
162 words
The method of transferring a preselected number of sheets of material from several locations to a processing machine including the steps of picking up a preselected number of sheets from a stack of cut materials with a device comprising a body member having a sheet engaging surface, a plurality of pointed members slidably mounted in said body member and adapted to extend outwardly at an acute angle to and beyond said engaging surface for sequential engagement with said preselected number of sheets in each stack so as to provide a predetermined assembly of sheets from said stacks for transfer to a processing station, and actuating means in said body member adjustably movable with respect to said pointed members for limiting the extension of said pointed members so as to control the number of sheets engaged in each stack and, picking up at least one further sheet from at least one further stack, and depositing said assembly of sheets at a further location.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
176 words
A pick-up device for lifting and removing at least one sheet from a stack thereof at one station in which said sheets are arranged in horizontal planes comprising a body member having a sheet engaging surface, a plurality of pointed members slidably mounted in said body member and adapted to extend outwardly at an acute angle with a horizontal plane and beyond said engaging surface for engagement with at least one of said sheets of said stack for lifting at least one of said sheets from said stack and for transfering therefrom, and a pad movable toward and away from said sheet engaging surface of said device and located between at least two of said pointed members, said pad being movable toward the uppermost sheet of said stack for assisting in the penetration of the pointed members of at least one of said sheets as said pick-up device is lifted away from said stack and assisting in the separation of at least one of said sheets from the remainder of the sheets left in said stack.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
176 words
A pick-up device for lifting and removing at least one sheet from a stack thereof at one station in which said sheets are arranged in horizontal planes comprising a body member having a sheet engaging surface, a plurality of pointed members slidably mounted in said body member and adapted to extend outwardly at an acute angle with a horizontal plane and beyond said engaging surface for engagement with at least one of said sheets of said stack for lifting at least one of said sheets from said stack and for transfering therefrom, and a pad movable toward and away from said sheet engaging surface of said device and located between at least two of said pointed members, said pad being movable toward the uppermost sheet of said stack for assisting in the penetration of the pointed members of at least one of said sheets as said pick-up device is lifted away from said stack and assisting in the separation of at least one of said sheets from the remainder of the sheets left in said stack.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination recited in claim 9 and further including means for moving said pick-up device vertically into and out of engagement with said stack and away from said stack to another station.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
228 words
The method of lifting a preselected number of sheets from a stack of sheets with a pick-up device comprising pressing said pick-up device against said stack of sheets and entering with pointed needles which extend at an angle to the plane of the uppermost sheet a predetermined distance into at least the uppermost sheet of said stack of sheets, stretching away from said pointed needles the portion of said preselected number of sheets which are between at least two of said needles, and lifting the pick-up device and separating said preselected number of sheets from the remainder of the sheets of the stack of sheets, transporting said preselected number of sheets to a position above a second stack of sheets, lowering the pick-up device and said preselected number of sheets upon said second stack of sheets, pressing said pick-up device against said second stack of sheets, entering a predetermined distance through the preselected number of sheets from said first stack of sheets and into at least the uppermost sheet of said second stack of sheets, stretching away from said pointed needles the portions of said preselected number of sheets from said first and second stacks of sheets between at least two of said needles, and lifting the pick-up device and separating said preselected numbers of sheets from the remainder of the sheets of the second stack of sheets.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
228 words
The method of lifting a preselected number of sheets from a stack of sheets with a pick-up device comprising pressing said pick-up device against said stack of sheets and entering with pointed needles which extend at an angle to the plane of the uppermost sheet a predetermined distance into at least the uppermost sheet of said stack of sheets, stretching away from said pointed needles the portion of said preselected number of sheets which are between at least two of said needles, and lifting the pick-up device and separating said preselected number of sheets from the remainder of the sheets of the stack of sheets, transporting said preselected number of sheets to a position above a second stack of sheets, lowering the pick-up device and said preselected number of sheets upon said second stack of sheets, pressing said pick-up device against said second stack of sheets, entering a predetermined distance through the preselected number of sheets from said first stack of sheets and into at least the uppermost sheet of said second stack of sheets, stretching away from said pointed needles the portions of said preselected number of sheets from said first and second stacks of sheets between at least two of said needles, and lifting the pick-up device and separating said preselected numbers of sheets from the remainder of the sheets of the second stack of sheets.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-02-29 | 1980-08-30 | 1981-03-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-02-29 | 1984-08-30 | 1985-03-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-02-29 | 1988-08-30 | 1989-03-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |