Vacuum Enabled Article Transfer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016031651-A1
Application number	US-201414463115-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 19, 2014
Priority date	Jul 31, 2014
Publication date	Feb 4, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Moving an article after a material, such as a hot-melt adhesive, has been applied to a surface of the article is accomplished with an article transfer apparatus. The apparatus is comprised of a belt having a plurality of apertures extending there through that are effective to communicate a vacuum pressure from an inner surface of the belt to a contacting surface of the belt. The vacuum pressure secures and adheres the article to the contacting surface of the belt as the belt conveys the article. The vacuum pressure is distributed along the inner surface of the belt by a vacuum chamber, which is between a compression roller and a second roller.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
a conveyance belt having a plurality of apertures extending through a contacting surface to an opposite inner surface of the conveyance belt; a compression roller; a second roller, wherein the conveyance belt forms a continuous loop around the compression roller and the second roller such that the belt inner surface is in contact with the compression roller and the second roller; and a vacuum distribution chamber, the chamber positioned between the compression roller and the second roller within the loop of the conveyance belt, wherein the chamber is comprised of an engagement surface proximate the belt inner surface and effective for directing a vacuum pressure through the belt at the plurality of apertures.

2 . The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the compression roller has a diameter that is greater than a height of the chamber within the loop formed by the belt.

3 . The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a vacuum generator fluidly coupled with the chamber.

4 . The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the engagement surface of the chamber extends between at least a portion of the compression roller and the belt.

5 . The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an adhesive applicator, the applicator comprising an applicator roller and an adhesive containing vessel, the applicator roller rotatably positioned at least partially within the adhesive containing vessel.

6 . The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the applicator roller has a diameter greater than a diameter of the compression roller.

7 . The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 5 , wherein an axis of rotation of the compression roller and axis of rotation of the applicator roller are substantially aligned in a plane perpendicular to a plane through which the belt extends between the compression roller and the second roller.

8 . The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the adhesive applicator further comprising a plurality of transfer filaments, the transfer filaments extending between the applicator roller and the belt.

9 . The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the transfer filaments are thermally coupled with an energy source such that the transfer filaments are maintained above a threshold temperature.

10 . The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the threshold temperature is a temperature within a range of 75 to 240 degrees Celsius.

11 . The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the transfer filaments extend, at least partially, in a plane substantially parallel with a plane in which the belt extends between the compression roller and the second roller.

12 . The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum distribution chamber has a first side that extends from the engagement surface at an acute angle to an upper surface.

13 . The vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus of claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the first side extends along the compression roller and between compression roller and the belt.

14 . A method of transferring an article, the method comprising:
receiving the article at a position on a vacuum enabled article transfer apparatus; applying a material to a first side of the article; temporarily adhering, with a vacuum pressure, the article to a conveyance belt, wherein the belt is in contact with a second side of the article, the second side is opposite of the first side; while maintaining the vacuum adhesion of the article to the belt; moving the belt from a first position to a second position; moving the belt from the second position to a third position, such that at the third position the vacuum adhesion is insufficient to counteract a force of gravity on the article such that the article is no longer adhered to the belt by vacuum adhesion.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the article is portion of an article of footwear.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the material applied to a first side is an adhesive.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the belt is comprised of a plurality of apertures extending there through for allowing a transfer of vacuum pressure through the belt to the article.

18 . The method of claim 14 further comprising compressing the article between a compression roller and an applicator roller, wherein the compression roller is within a loop formed by the belt and the applicator roller applies the material to the first side of the article.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the third position of the belt is a location beyond a vacuum chamber applying the vacuum pressure.

20 . The method of claim 14 further comprising transferring the article from the belt to a secondary transport mechanism, wherein the secondary transport mechanism is in contact with the first side of the article.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Hsieh Chia-Hung
• Huang Chun-Ta
• Lin Chiung-Lung

Classifications

• B05C1/003

  incorporating means for heating or cooling the liquid or other fluent material (B05C11/1042 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05D1/28

  performed by transfer from the surfaces of elements carrying the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. brushes, pads, rollers · CPC title

• B05C1/08 Primary

  using a roller {or other rotating member which contacts the work along a generating line} · CPC title

• B05C13/02

  for particular articles · CPC title

• C09J5/00 Primary

  Adhesive processes in general; Adhesive processes not provided for elsewhere, e.g. relating to primers · CPC title