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:
Dec. 29, 1992
Filed:
Jul. 22, 1991
Charles H Sanborn, III, Shelbyville, TN (US);
Ark, Inc., Shelbyville, TN (US);
Abstract
Apparatus for automatically feeding workpieces of limp material one at a time and one after another from a stack thereof to a device for operating thereon, e.g. for feeding plies of fabric from a stack of plies to sewing apparatus, comprising an endless conveyor having spaced flights and gaps. The stack is held under an upper reach of the conveyor on a table. The space between the gaps is substantially less than the dimension of the table in the direction of travel of the upper reach of the conveyor. A pick-up is operable through the gaps to grasp the top workpiece of the stack and pick it up with the workpiece extending down in a gap. The bottom surface of the workpiece is engaged by the oncoming flight of the conveyor to complete the separation of the workpiece from the stack and to bring it to lie generally flat on the oncoming flight.