US 12,434,930 B2
Aerogripper apparatus, system, and methods
Demitri Balabanov, Greensboro, NC (US); and Dewayne Steward, Madison, NC (US)
Assigned to The North Face Apparel Corp., Wilmington, DE (US)
Appl. No. 17/624,284
Filed by The North Face Apparel Corp., Wilmington, DE (US)
PCT Filed Jun. 30, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/040269
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 31, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/003141, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 7, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/869,783, filed on Jul. 2, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0356023 A1, Nov. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. B65H 3/14 (2006.01); B65H 5/10 (2006.01)
CPC B65H 5/10 (2013.01) [B65H 3/14 (2013.01); B65H 2405/581 (2013.01); B65H 2405/5812 (2013.01); B65H 2405/584 (2013.01); B65H 2406/122 (2013.01); B65H 2406/366 (2013.01); B65H 2511/51 (2013.01); B65H 2701/174 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
a main body;
a curved surface;
a fluid inlet disposed on a first side of the main body configured to receive a fluid;
a fluid outlet disposed through a portion of the main body, wherein the fluid outlet is external to the curved surface and is configured to direct fluid flow substantially perpendicularly to the curved surface at a point or line where the fluid exits the fluid outlet;
a sensor configured to detect a material disposed adjacent the curved surface, thereby initiating fluid flow into the fluid inlet, wherein the fluid flow perpendicular to the curved surface initiates lift and separation of an uppermost ply from a stack of material plies such that the uppermost ply curves upwards toward the curved surface; and
a clamp configured to actuate based on detection, via the sensor, of a material disposed adjacent the curved surface, wherein the clamp is further configured to secure the material against the curved surface upon activation.