Separating and feeding fabric parts
US4688781A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 11, 1984 |
| Grant date | Aug 25, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 11, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H3/26
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Stacked fabric parts are separated and fed seriatim by apparatus having an endless conveyor which feeds the stack into position for separating the uppermost part from the stack. A mechanism having a knife edge bar or opposed fabric engaging needles is lowered and engages the part for dragging the part to be separated off of the stack. The second part on the stack is held with the stack by a pressure force by a series of vacuum providing orifices or recesses in a horizontally disposed support surface and/or by retractable fabric piercing needles. The part separating and translating bar is connected to a support plate which may be vibrated in a generally horizontal plane to assist in breaking the frictional connection between the part to be separated and the remaining parts in the stack as they are separated from each other. The separated parts are presented seriatim to a guide surface which guides the part under the conveyance of an air jet stream along a feed path to another work station.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.