Patent ID: 8342317
Filing Date: 2013-01-01
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A method for transporting and processing flexible, two-dimensional products comprising: grasping each of a first plurality of flexible, two-dimensional products in one of a plurality of grippers of a transporter; conveying the first plurality of flexible, two-dimensional products with the plurality of grippers along a transport path of the transporter; transporting the first plurality of flexible, two-dimensional products with the plurality of grippers to a working station that is movable between being introduced to the transport path for processing contact with the flexible, two-dimensional products and being removed from the transport path and from processing contact with the flexible, two-dimensional products; processing the first plurality of flexible, two-dimensional products at the working station introduced to the transport path in a first process consisting of at least one of stapling, stitching, insertion, gluing or ultrasonic joining; transporting the first plurality of flexible, two-dimensional products with the plurality of grippers away from the working station; selectively removing the working station from the transport path by at least one of pivoting, lowering or lifting the working station with respect to the transport path; grasping each of a second plurality of flexible, two-dimensional products in one of the plurality of grippers of the transporter; and transporting the second plurality of flexible, two-dimensional products in the plurality of grippers past the working station removed from processing contact with the second plurality of flexible, two-dimensional products without processing by the working station.