Method and apparatus for automated handling of cut material

US5496021A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Stephen L. Bellio · Newton, US
• Edward Bernardon · Bedford, US
• Mark Condon · Watertown, US
• Robert S. Flory · Concord, US
• Donald C. Fyler · Needham, US
• Mitchell L. Hansberry · Framingham, US
• Tommy W. Lee · Wilmington, US
• James F. Mueller · Overland Park, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 19, 1994
• Grant date: Mar 5, 1996
• Expiry date: Oct 19, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T83/902
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Method and apparatus for nondestructively removing a cut segment of predetermined shape from a limp material sheet workpiece and transporting the cut workpiece segment to a staging area for further processing. The cut segment is picked up by a picker which may comprise an array of carding strips, each strip having a plurality of needle-like elements, arranged such that each strip can be displaced relative to its adjacent strips and the needle-like elements of each strip are angularly offset with respect to the needle-like elements of the adjacent strips. Such removal and transporting having is accomplished without distorting the shape of the cut segment.