Method and apparatus for detecting and controlling orientation of articles for further processing
AssigneeThreadbear, LLC
InventorsJeffrey W. Parker, Marty Juliano
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for use in a system for handling a flaccid article, such as a sock or other hosiery item, having portions of differing stretch characteristics, by which the differentially stretchable portions may be distinguished from one another by applying a stretching force to one of the portions and then detecting the degree of stretch, resistance to stretch, or other reaction of the stretched portion in response to the stretching force, whereby an indication is derived as to which of the differentially stretchable portions was stretched.
Claims24
In a system for handling an article having first and second portions of differing stretch characteristics, a method for distinguishing the first and second portions from one another, the method comprising applying a stretching force to one of the first and second portions of the article and detecting a reaction of the one portion in response to the stretching force as an indication of which of the first and second portions was stretched.
In a system for handling an article having first and second portions of differing stretch characteristics, apparatus for distinguishing the first and second portions from one another, the apparatus comprising a device for applying a stretching force to one of the first and second portions of the article and a device for detecting a reaction of the one portion in response to the stretching force as an indication of which of the first and second portions was stretched.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.