CA-3146121-C - AEROGRIPPER APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHODS

Abstract

An apparatus may comprise a curved surface (106); a fluid outlet (110) disposed to cause a fluid to move adjacent the curved surface; a sensor (112) configured to detect a material (300) disposed adjacent the curved surface; and a clamp (202) configured to actuate based on detection, via the sensor, of a material disposed adjacent the curved surface, wherein the clamp is further configured to secure the material to the curved surface upon activation.

Inventors

• Demitri Balabanov
• Dewayne Steward

Assignees

• THE NORTH FACE APPAREL CORP.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20200630

Priority Date

20190702

Claims (20)

1. 12 Claims: 1. An apparatus comprising: a curved surface; a fluid outlet disposed to direct fluid flow toward and around the curved surface; a sensor configured to detect material disposed adjacent the curved surface; a clamp configured to actuate based on detection, via the sensor, of the material disposed adjacent the curved surface, and to secure the material to the curved surface upon activation; and an agitator configured to indirectly assist with destacking at least one ply from a stack of material plies by disturbing the stack of material plies.
2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the curved surface comprises at least a portion of a curved body.
3. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the curved body has a generally cylindrical shape.
4. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid outlet is in communication with a source of pressurized fluid.
5. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid outlet is in communication with a source of pressurized air.
6. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the agitator is configured to introduce an irregularity into the material.
7. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the irregularity is a wave or a stretch.
8. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clamp is configured to peel a first edge of the material toward a second, opposite edge of the material.
9. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to detect when the material has been secured to the curved surface. 13
10. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein, upon detecting that the material has been secured to the curved surface, the sensor is configured to deactivate the fluid flow.
11. 11. A method for destacking at least one ply from a stack of material plies, the method comprising: securing a stack of material plies; generating an aerodynamic lift adjacent an uppermost ply of the stack of material plies by causing air to flow toward and around a curved body that is disposed adjacent an upper most ply of the stack of fabric; detecting, via sensor, whether a first edge of the ply has been disengaged from the stack of material plies; upon detecting that a first edge of the ply has not been disengaged from the stack, agitating, via an agitator, the stack of material plies; and activating, based on sensing a lifting of the uppermost ply, a clamp to secure the uppermost ply of material to a curved surface.
12. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the aerodynamic lift is generated by initiating airflow via a source of air.
13. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising detecting, via sensor, whether a first edge of the ply has been disengaged from the stack of material plies.
14. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising, upon detecting that the first edge has not been lifted, agitating, using the agitator, the uppermost ply of the stack of material plies.
15. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the agitating comprises introducing a wave or stretch to the uppermost ply.
16. 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising, upon detecting, via the sensor, that the clamp has secured the uppermost ply of material, disengaging the airflow. 14
17. 17. The method of claim 11, further comprising lifting, using the clamp, a first edge of the uppermost ply.
18. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising pulling, using the clamp, the lifted first edge of the uppermost ply toward a second edge of the uppermost ply.
19. 19. A system for destacking at least one ply from a stack of material plies, the system comprising: a main body; a curved body mounted to the main body, the curved body further comprising a curved surface; a fluid inlet disposed on a first side of the main body to receive a fluid; a plurality of fluid outlets connected, via one or more channels, to the fluid inlet, configured to direct a fluid to move toward and around the curved surface; a sensor configured to detect a material disposed adjacent the curved surface; a clamp configured to actuate based on detection, via the sensor, of a material disposed adjacent the curved surface, wherein the clamp is further configured to secure the material to the curved surface upon activation; and an agitator configured to indirectly assist with destacking the at least one ply by disturbing the stack of material plies.
20. 20. The system of claim 19, further comprising an agitator configured to introduce an irregularity into the material.

Description

AEROGRIPPER APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHODS TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present relates generally to material handling apparatus, systems, and methods, and more particularly to aerogripper apparatus, systems, and methods for separating and moving an uppermost ply from a stack of fabric plies. BACKGROUND [0002] In the manufacture of clothing, it is conventional to lay out fabric in a plurality oflayers or plies during various processes. For example, fabric may be disposed in a stack of layers or plies on a cutting table and then cut to a desired pattern through the entire thickness of cloth layers to form a stack of apparel pieces. Individual pieces of fabric must then be separated from the stack and joined to other components of a garment in a sewing operation or assembly process. Such fabric parts may include such items as pockets, sleeves, or other garment components as are required. It is challenging to mechanically separate a single fabric ply from a stack of identical fabric pieces. For instance, difficulties may arise because the fabric is not sufficiently stiff, but relatively supple and flexible. Additionally, friction between the layers and the edges can cause the plies to stick together. Therefore, techniques that operate satisfactorily in connection with sheets of wood, paper, or other articles that are relatively stiff are not generally successfully utilized in connection with fabric plies. Some attempts to mechanize the separation of one fabric ply from a stack of similarly shaped fabric plies include pins, pincers, suction devices, rollers, hooks, barbs, air blasts, frictional buckling devices, and the like. [0003] As an example, one type of fabric ply separating device which utilizes an air blast is illustrated and described in the patent to Carroll U.S. Pat. No. 3,877,695. Other devices, such as those illustrated in the U.S. patent to Gieson et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,585, utilize a mechanical gripping device which indirectly and mechanically senses the distance between the jaws thereof to determine whether one or more sheets have been clamped. [0004] However, improvements are needed. WO 2021/003141 PCT /0S2020/040269 SUMMARY [0005] An apparatus may comprise a curved surface; a fluid outlet disposed to cause a fluid to move adjacent the curved smface; a sensor configured to detect a material disposed adjacent the curved surface; and a clamp configured to actuate based on detection, via the sensor, of a material disposed adjacent the curved surface, wherein the clamp is further configured to secure the material to the curved surface upon activation. [0006] A method for destacking at least one ply from a stack of material plies may comprise securing a stack of material plies; generating, an aerodynamic lift adjacent an uppermost ply of the stack of material plies; and activating, based on sensing the uppermost ply, a clamp to secure the uppermost ply of material to a curved surface. [0007] A system for destacking at least one ply from a stack of material plies comprises a main body; a curved body mounted to the main body, the curved body further comprising a curved surface; a fluid inlet disposed on a first side of the main body to receive a fluid; a plurality of fluid outlets connected, via one or more channels, to the fluid inlet, configured to cause a fluid to move adjacent the curved surface; a sensor configured to detect a material disposed adjacent the curved surface; and a clamp configured to actuate based on detection, via the sensor, of a material disposed adjacent the curved surface, wherein the clamp is further configured to secure the material to the curved surface upon activation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] The following drawings show generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various examples discussed in the present disclosure. In the drawings: [0009] Figure 1 shows an example apparatus. [0010] [0011] [0012] [0013] Figure 2 shows an example system. Figure 3 shows the example system of Figure 2 clamping a ply of fabric. Figures 4A-4C shows an example process. Figure 5 is a flow diagram of an example method. 2 WO 2021/003141 PCT /0S2020/040269 DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0014] Described herein are apparatus, systems, and methods for material handling. As an example, an aerogripper apparatus may be configured to destack one or more plies from a plurality ( e.g., stack) of flexible or semi-rigid fabric plies or layers while maintaining the integrity of the remainder of the stack. The systems and/or methods may capture information from one or more steps of a management or manufacturing process to effect the steps described herein. Reference may be made herein to fabric or textiles as an illustration. However, application to a broader range of materials is contemplated and thus should not be limited to such illustrative terms. [0015] As a further example, a method for destacking one or more plies from a plurality of plies or layers may comprise mechanically secur