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US 12,434,930 B2Granted
Aerogripper apparatus, system, and methods
AssigneeThe North Face Apparel Corp.
InventorsDemitri Balabanov, Dewayne Steward
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus may comprise a curved surface; a fluid outlet disposed to cause a fluid to move adjacent the curved surface; a sensor configured to detect a material disposed adjacent the curved surface; and a clamp configured to actuate based on detection, via the sensor, of a material disposed adjacent the curved surface, wherein the clamp is further configured to secure the material to the curved surface upon activation.
Claims19
An apparatus comprising:
- a main body;
- a curved surface;
- a fluid inlet disposed on a first side of the main body configured to receive a fluid;
- a fluid outlet disposed through a portion of the main body, wherein the fluid outlet is external to the curved surface and is configured to direct fluid flow substantially perpendicularly to the curved surface at a point or line where the fluid exits the fluid outlet;
- a sensor configured to detect a material disposed adjacent the curved surface, thereby initiating fluid flow into the fluid inlet, wherein the fluid flow perpendicular to the curved surface initiates lift and separation of an uppermost ply from a stack of material plies such that the uppermost ply curves upwards toward the curved surface;
- and
- a clamp configured to actuate based on detection, via the sensor, of a material disposed adjacent the curved surface, wherein the clamp is further configured to secure the material against the curved surface upon activation.
4 more elements
A method for destacking at least one ply from a stack of material plies, the method comprising:
- securing a stack of material plies;
- generating an aerodynamic lift adjacent an uppermost ply of the stack of material plies by causing a fluid to flow into a main body via a fluid inlet and be directed, via a fluid outlet, toward a curved body that is disposed adjacent an upper most ply of the stack of fabric and out of the main body, wherein the fluid outlet is external to the curved body and is configured to direct fluid flow substantially perpendicularly to the curved body at a point or line where the fluid exits the fluid outlet, thereby initiating fluid flow around the curved body, wherein the fluid flow around the curved body initiates lift and separation of the uppermost ply such that the uppermost ply curves upwards toward the curved body;
- detecting, via sensor, whether a first edge of the ply has been disengaged from the stack of material plies;
- and
- activating, based on sensing a lifting of the uppermost ply, a clamp to secure the uppermost ply of material against a surface of the curved body.
2 more elements
A system for destacking at least one ply from a stack of material plies, the system comprising:
- a main body;
- a curved body mounted to the main body, the curved body further comprising a curved surface;
- a fluid inlet disposed on a first side of the main body to receive a fluid;
- a plurality of fluid outlets connected, via one or more channels, to the fluid inlet, wherein the fluid outlets are external to the curved surface and are configured to direct fluid flow substantially perpendicularly to the curved surface at a point or line where the fluid exits the fluid outlet, thereby initiating fluid flow around the curved surface of the curved body, wherein the fluid flow around the curved surface initiates lift and separation of the uppermost ply such that the uppermost ply curves upwards toward the curved surface;
- a sensor configured to detect a material disposed adjacent the curved surface;
- and
- a clamp configured to actuate based on detection, via the sensor, of a material disposed adjacent the curved surface, wherein the clamp is further configured to secure the material to the curved surface upon activation.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.