Cloth mover and stacker
AssigneeLevi Strauss & Co.
InventorsHubert Blessing, Robert D. Eckerson, Alfred E. Mally
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A carriage is moved on an ell shaped frame by a pneumatic actuator and a curved gripping device at the end of an ell shaped extension mounted on the carriage is operated by a second pneumatic actuator to pick up pieces of web material. The pneumatic actuator for the carriage is controlled by a sequence valve so as to not be movable until the gripper has gripped the web of material. A third pneumatic actuator thereafter moves the carriage at a relatively fast initial movement until the web of material has cleared the sewing machine. The carriage movement is slowed and this carriage moves the web of material to a predetermined location where it is released by the gripper to fall in a stack.
Claims9
A mechanism for gripping and moving lengths of pliable fabric from a stationary working surface to a storage location, the mechanism comprising
- an elongated frame having one end adjacent to the working surface and its other end adjacent the storage location;
- a carriage movable on the frame from the one end to the other end;
- gripper means mounted on the carriage for gripping the lengths of fabric;
- means responsive to a first control signal for activating the gripper means to grip the fabric lengths;
- means for moving the carriage on the frame from the one end toward the other end and back again, carriage movement controlling means controlled in part by the gripper activating means for initially causing the carriage moving means to move the carriage away from the one end at a first speed after the gripper means has gripped a length of fabric, pausing, and then continuing to move the carriage toward the other end at a second speed which is slower than the first speed.
A mechanism for gripping and removing lengths of sewn fabric from a sewing machine working surface, comprising
- a frame;
- a carriage movable on the frame;
- a first extension member attached to the carriage;
- gripper means mounted on the distal end of the first extension member from the carriage for gripping the lengths of web material;
- means for selectively activating the gripper means;
- and
- means for automatically moving the carriage on the frame between the working surface and a sequence of preselected points on the frame, including means for initially moving the carriage at a predetermined first speed for a predetermined time after the gripper means are activated, pausing to allow cutting of any threads extending from the sewing machine to the fabric, and then moving the carriage at a second speed which is slower than the first speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.