Pin plate for construction of an article
First Claim
1. A method for aligning one or more materials to construct an article, the method comprising:
- programming a computing system interfaced to an actuator array, the programming based on an extension pattern for an extendable array of pins, wherein the extension pattern determines alignment pins that are to be in an extended position, the alignment pins comprising a set of the extendable array of pins, and any remaining pins in the extendable array of pins that are outside of the set comprising retracted pins;
using the actuator array, extending the alignment pins through an array of holes in a plate having a face and a back such that the alignment pins, when in the extended position, extend at least partially beyond the face of the plate, while the retracted pins are in a retracted position, such that the retracted pins are retracted behind the back of the plate;
reversibly fixing the one or more materials to the alignment pins; and
modifying the one or more materials.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for aligning materials in order to construct an article is provided. The apparatus may include an array of moveable pins and a solid plate having an array of holes, where the array of holes is aligned with the array of pins. Each pin may be extended and/or retracted by a programmable actuator array. When a pin is extended, at least a portion of the pin may extend through the hole with which it is aligned, such that at least a portion of the pin extends beyond the solid plate. A fraction of the total number of pins in the array of pins may be extended by the programmable actuator array. The particular pins that are to be extended may be based on a pattern for an article. A material that is to be used in constructing the article may be aligned using the extended pins.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for aligning one or more materials to construct an article, the method comprising:
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programming a computing system interfaced to an actuator array, the programming based on an extension pattern for an extendable array of pins, wherein the extension pattern determines alignment pins that are to be in an extended position, the alignment pins comprising a set of the extendable array of pins, and any remaining pins in the extendable array of pins that are outside of the set comprising retracted pins; using the actuator array, extending the alignment pins through an array of holes in a plate having a face and a back such that the alignment pins, when in the extended position, extend at least partially beyond the face of the plate, while the retracted pins are in a retracted position, such that the retracted pins are retracted behind the back of the plate; reversibly fixing the one or more materials to the alignment pins; and modifying the one or more materials. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for aligning one or more materials to construct a shoe upper, the method comprising:
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based on a design for the shoe upper, assigning to each pin of an array of pins either an extended position or a retracted position; using an actuator array configured to independently actuate each pin of the array of pins, moving each pin of the array of pins to its assigned position, such that each extended pin assigned to the extended position extends at least partially beyond a face of a plate through a hole of an array of holes in the plate, the array of holes extending from a back of the plate to the face of the plate, and each retracted pin assigned to the retracted position is retracted behind the face of the plate; reversibly fixing at least one material of the one or more materials used to construct the shoe upper to each extended pin in the extended position; and modifying the at least one material. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method for aligning one or more materials to construct an article, the method comprising:
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based upon an extension pattern, determining which pins of an array of pins should be in an extended position, the pins which are determined need to be in the extended position comprising a set of pins; sending a first indication to an actuator system configured to individually actuate each pin of the array of pins to move the set of pins to the extended position, such that each pin in the extended position extends at least partially beyond a face of a plate through a hole of an array of holes in the plate, the array of holes extending from a back of the plate to the face of the plate; and after reversibly fixing at least one material of the one or more materials to the set of pins and modifying the at least one material, sending a second indication to the actuator system to move the set of pins to a retracted position, such that each pin in the retracted position is retracted behind the face of the plate. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification