Automated system for assembling framed articles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11951576-B2
Application number	US-202318095330-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 10, 2023
Priority date	Jan 11, 2022
Publication date	Apr 9, 2024
Grant date	Apr 9, 2024

Abstract

An automated system for assembling a framed article including a plurality of canvases and a plurality of assembled frames to be combined with the plurality of canvases to form the framed articles. Each assembled frame is formed of a rear panel and a frame member that are detachably attached to one another with one canvas being stretched across a front face of the frame member. The automated system includes an assembly station including a movable presser head that is configured to detach and lift the rear panel from the frame member and a plurality of movable side guide fingers that are configured to fold side edges of the canvas over sides of the frame member to permit the presser head to press the rear panel down over the folded side edges of the canvas into engagement with the frame member with the canvas being captured between the frame member and the rear panel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An automated system for assembling a framed article comprising:
a plurality of canvases;
a plurality of assembled frames to be combined with the plurality of canvases to form the framed articles, each assembled frame being formed of one rear panel and one frame member that are detachably attached to one another with one canvas being stretched across a front face of one respective frame member; and
an assembly station including a movable presser head that is configured to detach and lift one rear panel from one respective frame member that defines, in combination with the one rear panel, one assembled frame and a plurality of movable side guide fingers that are configured to fold side edges of the canvas over sides of the one frame member to permit the presser head to press the one rear panel down over the folded side edges of the canvas into engagement with the one frame member with the canvas being captured between the one frame member and the one rear panel.

2. The automated system of claim 1 , wherein the assembly station includes a bed having a recessed pocket formed therein, the recessed pocket being configured to receive the canvas and the one assembled frame, the bed further including a four linear slots formed therein and being located in and being open in corners of the recessed pocket.

3. The automated system of claim 2 , further including a corner tucking mechanism that is configured to tuck in and invert pleated corners of the canvas, the corner tucking mechanism comprising four corner tucking devices that are located in the four linear slots, each of the four corner tucking devices being operable to tuck in and invert one of the pleated corners of the canvas.

4. The automated system of claim 3 , wherein each of the four corner tucking devices comprises a first tucking element and a second tucking element, the first tucking element being located proximate the open end of the linear slot, while the second tucking element being located proximate a closed end of the linear slot.

5. The automated system of claim 4 , wherein the second tucking element comprises a pair of spaced fingers with an open space therebetween, the second tucking element pivoting between a first position in which hooked shaped distal ends of the pair of spaced fingers are located closer to the closed end of the linear slot and a second position in which the hooked shaped distal ends are located closer to the open end of the linear slot.

6. The automated system of claim 5 , wherein in the first position, the hooked shaped distal ends are facing upward and in the second position, the hooked shaped distal ends are facing downward.

7. The automated system of claim 5 , wherein the first tucking element is disposed within the open space between the pair of spaced fingers and moves between a retracted position and a pivoted extended position in which the first tucking element drives and inverts the pleated corner of the canvas.

8. The automated system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of canvases are stored in a stack at a canvas feed station spaced from the assembly station.

9. The automated system of claim 8 , wherein the canvas feed station includes a transfer device that is configured to retrieve one canvas from the stacked plurality of canvases and deliver the one canvas to a target location of the assembly station.

10. The automated system of claim 9 , wherein the transfer device has a carriage that rides along a guide track between the canvas feed station and the assembly station, the carriage having a plurality of grippers for selectively gripping and transporting the one canvas.

11. The automated system of claim 10 , wherein each gripper includes a suction cup that has one or more suction ports that are operatively connected to a source of negative pressure for generating suction at the suction cup to allow the suctions cups to hold the one canvas by suction when the negative pressure is applied to the suction cups.

12. The automated system of claim 1 , further including a reader station spaced from and facing the assembly station, the reader station including a reader that reads a first unique identifier that is located along the canvas.

13. The automated system of claim 12 , further including an ID application station at which a second unique identifier is placed on the assembled framed article.

14. The automated system of claim 13 , wherein the second unique identifier comprises a QR code printed on a rear of the canvas with invisible ink.

15. The automated system of claim 12 , wherein the first unique identifier comprises a barcode printed along one edge of the canvas.

16. The automated system of claim 1 , further including a frame feeding station at which the plurality of assembled frames are contained in one or more stacks.

17. The automated system of claim 16 , wherein the frame feeding station includes a transporter that delivers one assembled frame to a target location at which a pusher is located and configured to advance the one assembled frame to the assembly station.

18. The automated system of claim 17 , wherein the transporter comprises a plurality of divider walls that define slots for receiving stacks of the assembled frames, the plurality of divider walls being movable along a guide track.

19. The automated system of claim 1 , wherein the assembly station includes a bed having a recessed pocket formed therein, the recessed pocket being configured to receive the canvas and the one assembled frame.

20. The automated system of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of movable side guide fingers are disposed about the recessed pocket and in pivoted positions, distal ends of the movable side guide fingers are located over the recessed pocket.

21. The automated system of claim 1 , wherein the presser head includes a main body and is configured to move in an up and down direction, the main body having a plurality of gripper pins each of which moves between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein in the extended positions, the gripper pins are received in spaces formed in the rear panel, thereby allowing the presser head to lift up the rear panel.

22. The automated system of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of gripper pins comprises two gripper pins located at opposite ends of the main body.

23. The automated system of claim 1 , wherein each assembled frame includes a frame member and a rear panel that snap-fittingly attaches to the frame member in a detachable manner.

24. The automated system of claim 1 , wherein opposing edges of the canvas have notches and the assembly station includes locating pins that moves between retracted positions and extended positions in which the locating pins are received in the notches of the canvas.

25. The automated system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of canvases are contained in a stack on a spring biased platform that is configured to position a top most canvas in the stack at a transfer location at which a canvas transfer device can pick up and move the top most canvas to the assembly station.

26. An automated system for assembling a framed article comprising:
a bed having a flat working surface;
canvases arranged in a stack;
a movable carriage configured to pick up a top canvas from the stack of canvases and move the top canvas to an assembly station that includes a recessed portion formed in the flat working surface of the bed, wherein the

Assignees

• Tracer Imaging Llc

Inventors

• Knospler Daniel
• Spiro Steven M
• Kelly Ryan

Classifications

• G09F15/0012

  frames therefor · CPC title

• B23P19/027 Primary

  using hydraulic or pneumatic means (B23P19/033 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47G1/0605

  made from extruded or moulded profiles, e.g. of plastic or metal · CPC title

• F16M1/00 Primary

  Frames or casings of engines, machines or apparatus; Frames serving as machinery beds · CPC title

• B44D3/185

  Stretching frames for canvases · CPC title