Zoned activation manufacturing vacuum tool
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsPatrick Conall Regan, Kuo-Hung Lee, Chih-Chi Chang, Chang-Chu Liao, Ming-Feng Jean
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Aspects relate to systems, methods, and apparatus for a zoned vacuum tool comprised of independently operable vacuum sources provided a vacuum force to segregated zones. A vacuum force is generated in connection with a first zone independently of an activation or deactivation of vacuum force generation associated with a second zone. Therefore, a single vacuum tool can selectively apply a vacuum force to material portions, which allows for control as to which material portions are manipulated by the vacuum tool.
Claims22
A vacuum tool comprising:
- a first vacuum distributor portion;
- a first vacuum source locally coupled to the first vacuum distributor portion;
- a second vacuum distributor portion, wherein the first vacuum distributor portion is coupled with the second vacuum distributor portion;
- a second vacuum source locally coupled to the second vacuum distributor portion;
- a multi-portion planar plate coupled to the first and second vacuum distributor portions and comprising a plurality of discrete coplanar portions, wherein the multi-portion planar plate is in fluid communication with the first and second vacuum sources on an internal side and is adapted to manipulate materials on an external side;
- and
- the first vacuum source produces a vacuum in association with the first vacuum distributor portion that is independent of the second vacuum source that produces a vacuum in association with the second vacuum distributor portion,
- wherein the vacuum associated with the first vacuum source and the vacuum associated with the second vacuum source are applied in a coplanar manner along the multi-portion planar plate.
A method of operating a vacuum tool, the method comprising:
- activating a first plate portion of the vacuum tool having a locally coupled first vacuum source, wherein activating a plate portion results in a vacuum force proximate the plate portion;
- activating a second plate portion, wherein the first plate portion and the second plate portion form a material manipulating, common planar surface;
- and
- deactivating the first plate portion, wherein deactivating a plate portion results in a smaller vacuum force than when activated.
A method of operating a vacuum tool, the method comprising:
- generating a vacuum force at a first plate portion of a vacuum tool with a locally coupled first vacuum source;
- generating a vacuum force at a second plate portion of a vacuum tool with a locally coupled second vacuum source;
- and
- terminating the generation of the vacuum force at the first plate portion while continuing to allow for generation of the vacuum force at the second plate portion, wherein the first plate portion and the second plate portion form a material manipulating, common planar surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.