Patent ID: 9731422
Date: 2017-08-15
CPC Classifications: B25J,B29C,B29K,B29L,B82Y,G03F,Y10T

Claim:
1. A method of using micro- and/or nano-scale fibers to manipulate a first part, comprising the steps of: providing a manipulation device with a plurality of micro- and/or nano-scale fibers, contacting the first part with the flat surface of one or more tips of the plurality of micro- and/or nano-scale fibers to form contacted tips; picking up the first part and maneuvering it from a first position to a second position; reducing a contact area of each contacted tip of the contacted tips with the first part by displacing the plurality of micro- and/or nano-scale fibers towards the first part to cause the fiber to deform and the contacted tips to peel away from the first part; and retracting the plurality of micro- and/or nano-scale fibers away from the first part to release the first part from the manipulation device.