Apparatus for folding a sheet of material into a support structure
AssigneeTessellated Group, LLC
InventorGregory W. Gale
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods for forming three dimensional structures from a sheet of material of a desired medium are described. Examples described include an apparatus for folding a sheet of material to create a folded structure, the apparatus having a first and second array of creasing elements, and at least one actuator for causing relative movement of the first and second array of creasing elements from a first position to a second position.
Claims13
An apparatus for folding a sheet of material to create a folded structure, comprising a first array of creasing elements and a second array of creasing elements, each of the creasing elements having a leading edge adapted to engage the sheet of material, at least one actuator for causing relative movement of the first and second arrays of creasing elements from a first position in which the first and second plurality of creasing elements are spaced apart to a second position in which the first and second array of creasing elements are at least partially interdigitated and for moving the creasing elements of the first array closer together and the creasing elements of the second array closer together during relative movement of the first and second arrays of creasing elements to the second position whereby the sheet of material can be placed between the first and second arrays of creasing elements and folded by the leading edges of the creasing elements during the relative movement of the first and second arrays creasing elements to the second position and the movement of the creasing elements of the first array closer together and the creasing elements of the second array closer together accommodates contraction of the sheet of material as it is folded by the first and second arrays of creasing elements,
- wherein the creasing elements of the first array are disposed in rows and columns when viewed in plan and the creasing elements of the second array are disposed in rows and columns when viewed in plan, and adjacent creasing elements in each column of the first array are interconnected by a first column scissor assembly and adjacent creasing elements in each column of the second array are interconnected by a second column scissor assembly, and adjacent creasing elements in each row of the first array are interconnected by a first row scissor assembly and adjacent creasing elements in each row of the second array are interconnected by a second row scissor assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.