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.
Claims23
In a system for handling an article having first and second portions of differing stretch characteristics, wherein the system comprises conveying a plurality of the articles in sequence with each article being randomly oriented with one of the first and second portions in a relatively leading disposition and the other of the first and second portions in a relatively trailing disposition, 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, the system comprising a transport structure for conveying a plurality of the articles in sequence with each article being randomly oriented with one of the first and second portions in a relatively leading disposition and the other of the first and second portions in a relatively trailing disposition, the transport structure including a processing station to which each article of the plurality of articles is presented in sequence, apparatus for distinguishing the first and second portions from one another, the apparatus comprising a device disposed at the processing station 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.
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, 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, and controlling an orientation of the article for subsequent processing according to the detecting of a reaction to the stretching force.
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, and an arrangement for controlling an orientation of the article for subsequent processing in response to the reaction detecting device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.