The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 07, 1987
Filed:
Dec. 11, 1985
David M Basinger, Kannapolis, NC (US);
Gary L Hatley, Stanley, NC (US);
Billy J Kiser, Concord, NC (US);
James N Moser, Kannapolis, NC (US);
Fieldcrest Cannon, Inc., Eden, NC (US);
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for automatically and continuously feeding and folding successive textile articles, such as towels and the like, from a supply stack of such textile articles. The apparatus includes a supply mechanism for successively receiving a first stack of textile articles in a non-feeding position, moving the first stack into a feeding position, and receiving a second supply stack of textile articles in a non-feeding position for being moved into the feeding position when the first stack of textile articles is depleted. A folding mechanism successively receives the textile articles and folds the textile articles in the desired folded condition. A robot feeding mechanism with an end effector mechanism designed in accordance with this invention is positioned adjacent the supply mechanism for successively picking-up one textile article only from the top of the stack of textile articles in the feeding position and transporting the textile articles therefrom to the folding mechanism and releasing the textile articles.