Patent ID: 7997891
Filing Date: 2011-08-16
Classification: B29C,B29K,B33Y

Abstract:
1. An apparatus having a reconfigurable screen tool comprising: a housing defining a manifold cavity; a plurality of pins, each pin having a head protruding from the housing and a shank protruding into the housing, the pins being substantially parallel to each other and axially movable relative to each other and relative to the housing, the heads of the pins defining a screen surface through which air is able to flow; means for axially moving the pins relative to each other to configure the screen surface by engaging the heads of the pins to cause axial movement thereof, wherein the axial moving means comprises a robotic-controlled end effector sized to simultaneously contact the heads of a plurality of the pins but not simultaneously contact the heads of all of the pins, and the axial moving means causes the robotic-controlled end effector to simultaneously contact the heads of the plurality of pins to simultaneously sculpt the plurality of pins; means other than the axial moving means for preventing axial movement of the pins relative to each other by engaging the shanks of the pins; means for drawing a vacuum within the manifold cavity and creating a vacuum at the screen surface; and optionally an interpolator adapted to be placed on the screen surface for defining a surface that is smoother than the screen surface.