US 11,707,099 B1
Tape attachment systems and methods
Edgar Aguilar, Austell, GA (US); Michael J. Baker, Acworth, GA (US); Scott Coleman, Atlanta, GA (US); John Casey Edgerton, Roswell, GA (US); Jason Franklin, Marietta, GA (US); Luther R. Lloyd, III, Dallas, GA (US); Louis Marion Mieszkowski, Atlanta, GA (US); and Jorge Augusto Parra, Johns Creek, GA (US)
Assigned to SOFTWEAR AUTOMATION, INC., Cumming, GA (US)
Filed by SoftWear Automation, Inc., Cumming, GA (US)
Filed on Apr. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/721,229.
Int. Cl. A41D 27/24 (2006.01); D05B 35/06 (2006.01); D05B 27/00 (2006.01); D05B 33/00 (2006.01)
CPC A41D 27/245 (2013.01) [D05B 35/06 (2013.01); D05B 27/00 (2013.01); D05B 33/00 (2013.01)] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A robotic system, comprising:
a joining device comprising a joining head configured to attach a tape or strip of material across a seam;
a loading system comprising a loading arm configured to support and position material comprising the seam for attachment of the tape or strip of material across the seam by the joining device, where a feed direction of the joining head is along a length of the loading arm when the loading arm is aligned with the joining device;
a seam feed system comprising a fabric manipulator configured to adjust positioning of the material on the loading arm aligned with the joining device, the fabric manipulator configured to maintain alignment of the seam along the feed direction of the joining head for attachment of the tape or strip of material across the seam; and
a tape handling system configured to supply the tape or strip of material to the joining head of the joining device for attachment across the seam, where the tape or strip of material provided by the tape handling system covers the seam for attachment by the joining head and the fabric manipulator adjusts positioning of the material on the loading arm to align the seam with respect to the tape or strip of material and the joining head for attachment of the tape or strip of material across the seam.