Patent EP0193255A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0193255A2
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EP
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Apparatus for unloading a container having a matrix of storage positions
Assignee: Molex LLC
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Filing: 1986-01-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-01-14
Abstract
Abstract The apparatus (10) discharges serial arrays of solid components (12) contained in a three dimensional matrix of feeding positions, into a delivery track (16), one serial array at a time. The matrix of feeding positions is comprised of trays (24) each having a row of component containing channels (28). The trays are stacked one on top of another, and loaded in a box-like container (18). The container (18) is lowered by the apparatus (10), presenting one tray at a time to a plurality of funnel-shaped discharge openings (60). A shuttle (80), capable of selectively blocking the discharge openings (60), is aligned with one opening (60) at a time, and is operative to receive a serial array of components (12) contained in a channel (28) aligned with that opening. Upon receiving the components (12), the shuttle (80) returns to a home position in alignment with the delivery track (16), whereupon it discharges the components into the track. The shutle (80) is indexed along a row of channels (28), one channel at a time, until the first tray (24) is emptied. Thereafter, an adjacent tray (24) containing another row of channels (28) is lowered into alignment with the funnel-shaped apertures (60). The indexing of the shuttle (80) and the trays (24) is repeated until the entire matrix of components (12) is unloaded into the delivery track (16).
Inventors
- 👤 Steven P. Wright
- 👤 Joseph Wolyn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:45
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G65/00; H; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H05; H05K; H05K13/00; H05K13/02; H05K13/021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of feeding a plurality of solid components, one at a time, onto a loading station of a delivery track characterized by: a. arranging the plurality of solid components in a matrix of feeding positions; b. locating the matrix of feeding positions adjacent said loading station; c. indexing the matrix of feeding positions to present one feeding position adjacent said loading station; d. transferring the solid components from said adjacent feeding position to said loading station; e. indexing the matrix so that another feeding position is presented adjacent said loading station; f. transferring the solid components from said other adjacent feeding position to said loading station; and g. repeating steps e and f until all the feeding positions have been indexed and all the components have been transferred to said loading station.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of feeding a plurality of solid components, one at a time, onto a loading station of a delivery track characterized by: a. arranging the plurality of solid components in a matrix of feeding positions; b. locating the matrix of feeding positions adjacent said loading station; c. indexing the matrix of feeding positions to present one feeding position adjacent said loading station; d. transferring the solid components from said adjacent feeding position to said loading station; e. indexing the matrix so that another feeding position is presented adjacent said loading station; f. transferring the solid components from said other adjacent feeding position to said loading station; and g. repeating steps e and f until all the feeding positions have been indexed and all the components have been transferred to said loading station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said indexing step includes the steps of: h. presenting a linear succession of feeding positions to said loading station; i. presenting a second parallel adjacent linear succession of feeding positions to said loading station; and j. repeating steps h and i until all of the feeding positions in said matrix have been indexed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
169 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of transferring said solid components to said delivery track includes the step of transferring a serial array of solid components from a channel onto an intermediate loading station, said method further comprising the steps of: k. moving said intermediate loading station along a row of channels; 1. transferring the solid components in one of the channels of said row to said intermediate loading station; m. moving the intermediate loading station adjacent said delivery track loading station; n. transferring the solid components from said intermediate loading station to said delivery track loading station; o. moving said intermediate loading station to another channel in said same row, and p. repeating steps 1 through o until all the solid components contained in the channels of said row are transferred to said delivery track. 4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of moving said matrix of feeding positions relative to said intermediate loading station to present a different row of channels thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 3 or 4 further comprising the step of masking all but one channel of a row of channels to limit the transfer of solid components from only said one channel at a given time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of masking all but one row of channels in said matrix of channels to limit the transfer of solid components from only said one row of channels at a given time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3, 4,5, or 6 wherein said feeding positions each contain a serial array of solid components.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 7 including the step of loading a serial array of solid components into each of a plurality of open-ended component-receiving channels, wherein the open end of each channel defines one of said feeding positions and wherein said feeding positions lie in a common plane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said matrix arranging step includes the step of loading said channels in an open-ended box-like container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said step of transferring said solid components to said delivery track includes the step of transferring said serial array of solid components from a channel onto an intermediate loading station.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
84 words
An apparatus for feeding a plurality of solid components, one at a time, to a delivery track having a loading station, characterized by: container means including a matrix array of open-ended component receiving channels, each for holding at least one solid component; means for indexing said matrix of channels to align a sequence of said channels, one at a time, to said loading station; and means for transferring the solid components contained in said channels, one channel at a time, to said loading station.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
84 words
An apparatus for feeding a plurality of solid components, one at a time, to a delivery track having a loading station, characterized by: container means including a matrix array of open-ended component receiving channels, each for holding at least one solid component; means for indexing said matrix of channels to align a sequence of said channels, one at a time, to said loading station; and means for transferring the solid components contained in said channels, one channel at a time, to said loading station.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said component receiving channels each contain a serial array of said solid components.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said component receiving channels are arranged in generally parallel side-by-side relationship to form a row of channels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said matrix comprises rows of said channels, stacked one on top of another, with the open ends of said channels lying in a common plane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means for indexing said matrix of channels comprises: a first means for indexing said container means to present a predetermined row of channels adjacent said loading station; and second indexing means for indexing said row of channels so as to present one channel at a time to said loading station.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
85 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said second indexing means comprises: shuttle means including a component receiving portion and a component discharge station, located adjacent said matrix; means for transferring the solid components contained in said channels, one channel at a time, to said shuttle component receiving portion; means for aligning said shuttle discharge station with said delivery track loading station; and means for sequentially transferring the solid components in said shuttle component receiving portion, one at a time, to said delivery track loading station.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising means for moving said shuttle component receiving portion along a row of said channels, to align ones of said channels to said component receiving portion, and to move said shuttle discharge station into alignment with said delivery track loading station.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising first masking means for masking all but one channel in a row of channels to provide communication between only said one channel and said shuttle component receiving portion at any given time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said first masking means is responsive to said shuttle component receiving portion being aligned with one channel in a given row, to mask the other channels in said row which contain solid components and to maintain the masking of the other channels when said shuttle discharge station is aligned with said delivery track loading station.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 17, 18 or 19 further comprising means for advancing said matrix of component receiving channels to position another row of channels adjacent said shuttle component receiving portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising second masking means for masking all but one row of channels in said matrix of channels to provide communication between the channels of only said one row and said shuttle component receiving portion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
The arrangement of claim 21 wherein said second masking means comprises a stationary masking plate having an end, and said matrix of component receiving channels is moved relative to said masking plate, such that a predetermined row of channels is exposed, being advanced past the end of said masking plate.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
100 words
The apparatus of any of claims 16 to 22 wherein said means for transferring solid components contained in said channels to said shuttle component receiving portion includes means for inclining said matrix of channels away from a vertical axis to impart a gravitational force to said solid components in a direction toward said open ends of said channels, and said first masking means is selectively operable to expose the open end of said one channel, thereby allowing a serial array of solid components contained in said one channel to advance into said shuttle component receiving portion under said gravitational force.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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