Manufacturing frame
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsJared S. Baggen, Bruce Alan Barney, Daniel B. DeHaven, Bruce J. Kilgore, John Joseph Terlizzi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A manufacturing frame comprises one or more alignment tabs. Each alignment tab comprises an alignment element. The alignment element interacts with a corresponding alignment element at a manufacturing station to identify to the manufacturing station the position and orientation of the frame. The frame supports a flexible material in a known position and orientation relative to the frame, allowing the manufacturing station to infer the position and orientation of the flexible material on the frame from the interaction of the alignment elements on the frame and the manufacturing station.
Claims20
A frame for use in manufacturing having a long side and a short side, the frame comprising:
- a perimeter defined by the long side, a second, opposing long side, the short side, and a second, opposing short side;
- a gasket incorporated with the frame, wherein the gasket is compressible and capable of securing a material to the frame;
- a first alignment tab extending from the frame long side, the first alignment tab comprising an alignment element, wherein the first alignment tab and the alignment element allow for positioning of the frame at a manufacturing station and defining an origin for a manufacturing process to occur within a center area defined by the perimeter;
- and
- an ejection pin that is capable of separating the frame from a second frame by pushing the frame away from the second frame, the second frame configured to coextensively mate with the frame.
A frame for use in manufacturing, the frame comprising:
- a first frame comprising:
- (1) a first plurality of magnetic elements secured to the first frame;
- (2) a first plurality of pins secured to the first frame, wherein the first plurality of pins are positioned around the first frame for securing a material extending across a center area of the first frame;
- (3) a first aperture extending through the first frame;
- a second frame configured to coextensively mate with the first frame, the second frame comprising:
- (1) a second plurality of magnetic elements secured to the second frame, wherein the first plurality of magnetic elements and the second plurality of magnetic elements are cooperatively positioned to magnetically attract the first frame and the second frame in the coextensively mated configuration;
- (2) a solid portion of the second frame configured to align with the first aperture of the first frame when in the coextensively mated configuration with the second frame;
- and
- an alignment tab extending from the frame when the second frame is coextensively mated with the first frame;
- and
- an ejection pin that separates the first frame from the second frame by pushing the first frame away from the second frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.