Tool and method for separating and picking cut pieces of flexible materials
AssigneeArm Automation, Inc.
InventorsDerek D. Black, Nathan R. Woodward, Damian J. Hendriks, Joseph W. Geisinger, Stephen G. Grupinski
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Abstract
The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for uncut material detection while lifting from an automated cutting table select pieces of thin, flexible material. The apparatus comprises a structured energy source and a structured energy sensor. The structured energy can be used to detect undesired lifting of a peripheral portion of the flexible material resulting from the presence of uncut material.
Claims20
A method for detecting uncut material when picking a cut material piece from a cut table, the method comprising:
- directing, from a structured energy source, structured energy in proximity to peripheral material adjacent to a cut material piece on a cut table, the peripheral material in a region trailing a picking drum configured to pick up the cut material piece from the cut table by rolling the cut material piece directly onto the picking drum;
- and
- sensing, using a structured energy sensor, a change in the structured energy resulting from lifting of the peripheral material during picking of the cut material piece from the cut table by the picking drum, the structured energy sensor further configured, upon sensing the change, to output a signal to inhibit further picking of the cut material piece from the cut table.
An uncut material detector for detecting peripheral material when picking a cut material piece from a cut table, the uncut material detector comprising:
- a structured energy source configured to direct structured energy in proximity to the peripheral material adjacent to the cut material piece on the cut table, the peripheral material in a region trailing a picking drum configured to pick up the cut material piece from the cut table by rolling the cut material piece directly onto the picking drum;
- and
- a structured energy sensor configured to sense a change in the structured energy resulting from lifting of the peripheral material during picking of the cut material piece from the cut table by the picking drum, the structured energy sensor further configured, upon sensing the change, to output a signal to inhibit further picking of the cut material piece from the cut table.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.