Ultrasonic apparatus for cutting and placing individual chips of light lock material
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic apparatus for cutting and placing individual chips of light lock material in a cartridge, said ultrasonic apparatus comprising:
- a machine frame;
cutting means mounted to said frame for cutting individual chips of light lock material;
positioning means mounted to said frame for positioning light lock material at said cutting means;
cartridge holding means mounted to said frame;
pivotable picking means mounted to said frame for picking one of said individual chips of light lock material from said cutting means and pivoting to position said one of said individual chips of light lock material over said cartridge holding means;
removal means mounted to said pivotable picking means for removing said one of said individual chips of light lock material to a cartridge held by said cartridge holding means; and
a retractable ultrasonic horn mounted to said pivotable picking means for tacking said one of said individual chips of light lock material to said cartridge.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for cutting small pieces of fabric by means of an ultrasonic horn and a hollow open centered cutting anvil. The cutting operation includes a pick mechanism incorporating two tapered pins and a stripper pad to maintain the fabric position before, during, and after the cutting operation. The pick head mechanism is designed to insure accuracy in locating these small fabric pieces, referred to as chips, in a subsequent assembly operation performed by the pick head.
The assembly operation relates to attachment of small pieces of fabric by means of two miniature ultrasonic horns. The horns are combined with a pick and place mechanism which incorporates two tapered pins and a stripper pad to maintain the fabric position during the manufacturing process. This pick and place head, when attached to a robotic arm, is designed to insure accuracy in locating these small fabric pieces repeatedly in a thermoplastic cartridge.
64 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic apparatus for cutting and placing individual chips of light lock material in a cartridge, said ultrasonic apparatus comprising:
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a machine frame; cutting means mounted to said frame for cutting individual chips of light lock material; positioning means mounted to said frame for positioning light lock material at said cutting means; cartridge holding means mounted to said frame; pivotable picking means mounted to said frame for picking one of said individual chips of light lock material from said cutting means and pivoting to position said one of said individual chips of light lock material over said cartridge holding means; removal means mounted to said pivotable picking means for removing said one of said individual chips of light lock material to a cartridge held by said cartridge holding means; and a retractable ultrasonic horn mounted to said pivotable picking means for tacking said one of said individual chips of light lock material to said cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An ultrasonic apparatus for cutting individual chips of light lock material, said ultrasonic apparatus comprising:
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an ultrasonic horn engageable with one side of light lock material for transmitting ultrasonic vibrations to said light lock material; an anvil axially aligned with said ultrasonic horn and engageable with the other side of said light lock material, said anvil having a hollow center; and means for positioning said light lock material between said ultrasonic horn and said anvil, wherein vibration of said ultrasonic horn against said light lock material and thereby against said anvil results in cutting of an individual chip of said light lock material.
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14. An ultrasonic apparatus for picking and placing individual chips of light lock material in a cartridge, said ultrasonic apparatus comprising:
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a pivotable and retractable arm; a pin mounted to said arm, wherein said pin is inserted into an individual chip of light lock material when said arm is extended; a retractable pad mounted to said arm and having an aperture therein for passage of said pin, wherein extension of said pad pushes said individual chip of light lock material off of said pin and into a cartridge as said pin passes through said pad; and a retractable ultrasonic horn mounted to said arm, wherein said pad has an aperture therein for passage of said ultrasonic horn, and further wherein extension of said ultrasonic horn causes said horn to contact said individual chip of light lock material held in said cartridge by said pad so as to tack said individual chip of light lock material to said cartridge when said ultrasonic horn is energized.
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Specification