Method and apparatus for handling flexible objects

Apparatus for handling and placing in a predetermined orientation elongate flexible objects having varying characteristics along the length thereof, said apparatus comprising

• support means for supporting flexible objects in spaced apart relation,
• first removing means for removing a small number of elongate objects from a mass of randomly arranged flexible objects and depositing the removed objects on said support means in spaced apart relation,
• second removing means for removing the flexible objects substantially one at a time from said support means and transporting the removed objects along a first predetermined path of travel with one end thereof leading and another end thereof trailing,
• first sensing means disposed adjacent the first predetermined path of travel for sensing the trailing end of the flexible object passing thereby,
• first conveying means responsive to said first sensing means for receiving and transporting the flexible object along a second predetermined path of travel with the trailing end thereof being the leading end thereof from a beginning end of said second path of travel to a terminal end thereof,
• second sensing means at the terminal end of said second predetermined path of travel for sensing the arrival of the flexible object at the terminal end of said second path of travel,
• clamping means responsive to said second sensing means for clamping the leading end of the flexible object,
• elongating means responsive to said second sensing means for elongating the clamped flexible object to remove any folds or bunches therefrom,
• third sensing means responsive to said second sensing means for sensing a characteristic of the flexible object adjacent the clamped end thereof that is indicative of the particular orientation of the flexible object at that time, and
• second conveying means responsive to said third sensing means for conveying the flexible object along a selected one of two alternate paths of travel to a processing location, the selected path of travel being determined by the particular orientation of the flexible object indicated by the characteristic sensed by said fourth sensing means and the desired orientation thereof at the processing location.