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:
Sep. 07, 2004
Filed:
Mar. 21, 2002
Benito Manini, Florence, IT;
Santoni S.p.A., Brescia, IT;
Abstract
A method and apparatus for automatically picking up hosiery articles ( ) from a container ( ), e.g., socks, knee socks, and the like in which an actuator ( ) comprised of a support ( ), to which a grasping device ( ) is suspended, picks up the hosiery articles ( ) at a loading position and moves them to an unloading position. The grasping device ( ) is lowered into the container until the grasping device ( ) contacts the free surface of the bulk of hosiery articles ( ). The actuator ( ) continues to be lowered according to a brief additional stroke and the grasping device ( ) delays the closure even after a first contact with the free surface of hosiery articles ( ). The grasping device ( ) is then detected and closed onto hosiery articles ( ) grasping at least one of them. The grasping device ( ) them moves to the unloading position by means of the actuator ( ) where the grasping device ( ) opens and releases the hosiery article ( ). Finally, grasping device ( ) is returned to the starting position above the container ( ) for a next picking up step.