Apparatus and method for removing a release sheet from a workpiece
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsGary L. Tveit, Terence J. Fitzgerald, Edward L. Nageldinger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method are disclosed for removing a sheet such as a release sheet (18) in adherence with a workpiece such as a foam pad (12). The release sheet is contacted with a knife to form a slit, a needle then enters and engages the slit to lift a portion (102) of the release sheet, and a peeler (48) then grasps the lifter portion and peels the release sheet from the workpiece.
Claims15
An apparatus for at least partially removing from a workpiece a sheet adhered to a surface of such a workpiece, comprising:
- a knife having a cutting edge,
- means for holding said knife,
- means for gripping such workpiece and moving such workpiece so that such sheet engages said cutting edge and such workpiece is moved relative to said knife to at least partially cut such sheet and thereby form a slit therethrough, such slit comprising a first edge and a second edge;
- means for entering such slit and engaging one of such edges while said means for gripping and moving such workpiece moves such workpiece relative to said means for entering and engaging to thereby lift at least a portion of such sheet from such workpiece along such slit;
- and
- means for grasping such portion and at least partially removing such sheet from such workpiece.
A method for at least partially removing from a workpiece a sheet adhered to a surface of such a workpiece, comprising:
- at least partially cutting such sheet and thereby forming a slit therethrough such slit comprising a first edge and a second edge;
- providing a substantially nonflexible rod;
- entering such slit and engaging one of such edges with said rod by moving such workpiece relative to said rod, thereby lifting at least a portion of such sheet from such workpiece along such slit;
- providing a pair of pinch rollers, each pinch roller having a drive surface thereon, for grasping a lifted portion of such sheet and driving such sheet therebetween;
- providing a plurality of plate means for guiding such sheet away from said pinch rollers;
- rotatably mounting said plurality of plate means on said pinch rollers;
- positioning said lifted portion between said pinch rollers;
- p1 axially contacting said pinch rollers to grasp said lifted portion;
- and
- pulling said lifted portion at least partially away from such workpiece, by rotating said pinch rollers toward one another to remove such sheet from such workpiece and drive such sheet between said plate means while moving such workpiece transverse to the direction of said pulling.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.