Patent US3570656A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3570656A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Accumulating feed system
Assignee: SIMPLEX CORP
•
Filing: 1970-01-02
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Granted: 1971-03-16
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Expires: 1990-01-02
Abstract
Abstract A system for advancing a series of articles through a series of stations including means for insuring advance of every article in the system to the rear of the foremost vacant station therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter J Manetta
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 03:16
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G25/00; B65G25/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
453 words
An accumulating feed system comprising a series of work supporting stations including a starting station at which workpieces are deposited serially, a delivery station from which workpieces are removed serially, and a plurality of uniformly spaced intermediate stations through which workpieces are advanced intermittently, sensing means associated with each of said stations, said sensing means having first and second positions corresponding respectively to the presence and absence of a workpiece at the associated station, a transfer slide extending along said series of stations, feed members movable connected to said transfer slide for movement thereon between an operating position in which each feed member is engageable with a workpiece and operable upon forward movement of said transfer slide to advance a workpiece from one station to the next station and an idle position in which the feed member moves past the adjacent workpiece without engaging it, means for moving said transfer slide in forward and reverse strokes at least equal to the spacing between work stations, a control bar extending along said transfer slide and series of stations, independently movable devices carried by said control bar each of which has means mechanically engageable with its associated sensing means when the sensing means is in its second or empty position, a feed member actuator operable by each of said devices, means for moving said control bar in forward and reverse strokes to cause each of the movable devices thereon to traverse the position occupied by the associated sensing means to cause the movable device traversing the foremost empty station to engage the sensing means in its second position thereat to move the device relative to said program bar and to move the associated actuator into mechanical engagement with the associated feed member and to shift the feed member if in idle position into feed position, said independently movable devices comprising a longitudinally extending series of independently movable members, the means mechanically engageable with said sensing means being carried by said independently movable members, said independently movable members having one-way engagement with each other and each being movable in one sense if in a position corresponding to idle position of the associated feed member to the position correspondinG to feed position of the associated feed member upon movement of the associated movable member as a consequence of engagement by the means carried by said associated movable member with the associated sensing means in its second or empty position, the one-way engagement between said movable members being effective to insure that upon movement of the foremost feed member into feed position, all feed members located rearwardly of said foremost feed members located rearwardly of said foremost feed member is in idle position, are moved to feed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
453 words
An accumulating feed system comprising a series of work supporting stations including a starting station at which workpieces are deposited serially, a delivery station from which workpieces are removed serially, and a plurality of uniformly spaced intermediate stations through which workpieces are advanced intermittently, sensing means associated with each of said stations, said sensing means having first and second positions corresponding respectively to the presence and absence of a workpiece at the associated station, a transfer slide extending along said series of stations, feed members movable connected to said transfer slide for movement thereon between an operating position in which each feed member is engageable with a workpiece and operable upon forward movement of said transfer slide to advance a workpiece from one station to the next station and an idle position in which the feed member moves past the adjacent workpiece without engaging it, means for moving said transfer slide in forward and reverse strokes at least equal to the spacing between work stations, a control bar extending along said transfer slide and series of stations, independently movable devices carried by said control bar each of which has means mechanically engageable with its associated sensing means when the sensing means is in its second or empty position, a feed member actuator operable by each of said devices, means for moving said control bar in forward and reverse strokes to cause each of the movable devices thereon to traverse the position occupied by the associated sensing means to cause the movable device traversing the foremost empty station to engage the sensing means in its second position thereat to move the device relative to said program bar and to move the associated actuator into mechanical engagement with the associated feed member and to shift the feed member if in idle position into feed position, said independently movable devices comprising a longitudinally extending series of independently movable members, the means mechanically engageable with said sensing means being carried by said independently movable members, said independently movable members having one-way engagement with each other and each being movable in one sense if in a position corresponding to idle position of the associated feed member to the position correspondinG to feed position of the associated feed member upon movement of the associated movable member as a consequence of engagement by the means carried by said associated movable member with the associated sensing means in its second or empty position, the one-way engagement between said movable members being effective to insure that upon movement of the foremost feed member into feed position, all feed members located rearwardly of said foremost feed members located rearwardly of said foremost feed member is in idle position, are moved to feed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as defined in claim 1 in which said feed members comprise pivoted levers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as defined in claim 2 in which said movable members are independently pivotally connected to said control bar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as defined in claim 2 in which said feed members are shaped to be biased by gravity to either limiting position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system as defined in claim 1 in which said independently movable members are included in said devices to insure that all devices in rear of the foremost device moved to feed member actuating position are also moved to feed member actuating position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as defined in claim 5 in which said sensing means comprise arms which when the associated station is empty, move into fixed positions and constitute rigid abutments engageable by the means carried by said movable members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as defined in claim 5 in which said movable members are independently pivotally connected to said control bar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as defined in claim 7 in which each of said movable members has one-way abutment surfaces thereon spaced from the pivot connections to said control bar engageable with abutment surfaces on the adjacent movable member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as defined in claim 8 in which said movable members are in the form of elongated bar segments having the abutment surfaces adjacent the ends thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as defined in claim 9, in which each bar segment is connected to said control bar by parallel links.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
404 words
An accumulating feed system comprising a longitudinally arranged series of work supporting stations including a starting station at which workpieces are deposited serially, a delivery station from which workpieces are removed serially, and a plurality of intermediate stations through which workpieces are advanced intermittently and from which individual workpieces may be removed, sensing means associated with each station except the discharge station operable to advance a workpiece from its station to the next successive station, and control means responsive to the sensing of the absence of a workpiece at the delivery or any intermediate station to activate the feed means of every station in rear of the empty station simultaneously to advance a workpiece to the next successive station, the sensing means and the control means both being mechanical means, a feed member movable when activated to feed position to advance a workpiece from one station to the next successive station, means for moving all of said feed members simultaneously in forward feeding strokes, said feed members comprising overcenter feed levers having activated feed positions in which they are movable in paths to engage workpieces, and inactivated idle positions in which when advanced they clear the adjacent workpieces, said levers being engageable with workpieces immediately to the rear thereof on the return stroke to move the levers to inactivated positions, said control means comprising a control bar reciprocable longitudinally of said series of stations, individual control members carried by said control bar and selectively operable by said sensing means to restore each of said levers to activated position, and interlock means operable to cause all of said members to the rear of the foremost member operated by said sensing means as a result of sensing an empty station to move the levers associated therewith to activated positions, said feeding stations being provided by a pair of rails having recesses at each station, said feed means comprising a transfer slide movable forwardly and rearwardly in feed and return strokes slightly greater than the spacing of stations along said rails, said sensing means comprising sensing levers engageable by workpieces at said stations and movable thereby to inoperative positions, and said members being pivoted to said control bar and having means thereon engageable with a sensing lever at any empty station, said members being in engagement whereby movement of any one member by a sensing lever causes like movement of every control member to the rear thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
404 words
An accumulating feed system comprising a longitudinally arranged series of work supporting stations including a starting station at which workpieces are deposited serially, a delivery station from which workpieces are removed serially, and a plurality of intermediate stations through which workpieces are advanced intermittently and from which individual workpieces may be removed, sensing means associated with each station except the discharge station operable to advance a workpiece from its station to the next successive station, and control means responsive to the sensing of the absence of a workpiece at the delivery or any intermediate station to activate the feed means of every station in rear of the empty station simultaneously to advance a workpiece to the next successive station, the sensing means and the control means both being mechanical means, a feed member movable when activated to feed position to advance a workpiece from one station to the next successive station, means for moving all of said feed members simultaneously in forward feeding strokes, said feed members comprising overcenter feed levers having activated feed positions in which they are movable in paths to engage workpieces, and inactivated idle positions in which when advanced they clear the adjacent workpieces, said levers being engageable with workpieces immediately to the rear thereof on the return stroke to move the levers to inactivated positions, said control means comprising a control bar reciprocable longitudinally of said series of stations, individual control members carried by said control bar and selectively operable by said sensing means to restore each of said levers to activated position, and interlock means operable to cause all of said members to the rear of the foremost member operated by said sensing means as a result of sensing an empty station to move the levers associated therewith to activated positions, said feeding stations being provided by a pair of rails having recesses at each station, said feed means comprising a transfer slide movable forwardly and rearwardly in feed and return strokes slightly greater than the spacing of stations along said rails, said sensing means comprising sensing levers engageable by workpieces at said stations and movable thereby to inoperative positions, and said members being pivoted to said control bar and having means thereon engageable with a sensing lever at any empty station, said members being in engagement whereby movement of any one member by a sensing lever causes like movement of every control member to the rear thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as defined in claim 11 in which each of said control members has means thereon mechanically engageable with the associated feed member to restore it to feed position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
194 words
An accumulating feed system comprising a longitudinally arranged series of work supporting stations including a starting station at which workpieces are deposited serially, a delivery station from which workpieces are removed serially, and a plurality of intermediate stations through which workpieces are advanced intermittently and from which individual workpieces may be removed, sensing means associated with said stations to determine empty stations, feed means associated with each station except the discharge station operable to advance a workpiece from its station to the next successive station, and control means responsive to the sensing of the absence of a workpiece at the delivery or any intermediate station to activate the feed means of every station in rear of the empty station to simultaneously advance a workpiece to the next successive station, said control means comprising a series of individual separately movable elements, all of said elements being movable relative to a support in the same sense, and abutment means acting between said elements effective to ensure identical movement of all elements located in one direction from a particular element upon movement of such particular element, while the elements located in the opposite direction are not moved.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
194 words
An accumulating feed system comprising a longitudinally arranged series of work supporting stations including a starting station at which workpieces are deposited serially, a delivery station from which workpieces are removed serially, and a plurality of intermediate stations through which workpieces are advanced intermittently and from which individual workpieces may be removed, sensing means associated with said stations to determine empty stations, feed means associated with each station except the discharge station operable to advance a workpiece from its station to the next successive station, and control means responsive to the sensing of the absence of a workpiece at the delivery or any intermediate station to activate the feed means of every station in rear of the empty station to simultaneously advance a workpiece to the next successive station, said control means comprising a series of individual separately movable elements, all of said elements being movable relative to a support in the same sense, and abutment means acting between said elements effective to ensure identical movement of all elements located in one direction from a particular element upon movement of such particular element, while the elements located in the opposite direction are not moved.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
196 words
An accumulating feed system comprising a longitudinally arranged series of work supporting stations including a starting station at which workpieces are deposited axially, a delivery station from which workpieces are removed serially, and a plurality of intermediate stations through which workpieces are advanced intermittently and from which individual workpieces may be removed, sensing means associated with said stations to determine empty stations, feed means associated with each station except the discharge station operable to advance a workpiece from its station to the next successive station, and control means responsive to the sensing of the absence of a workpiece at the delivery or any intermediate station to activate the feed means of every station in rear of the empty station to simultaneously advance a workpiece to the next successive station, said control means comprising an elongated support, a segmental bar composed of elongated normally end-abutting segments pivoted to said support, said sensing means being operable to pivot a particular one, including an intermediate one of said segments relative to said support, pivotal movement of any of said segments by said sensing means being transmitted to all segments located in the direction toward which said particular segment swings.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
196 words
An accumulating feed system comprising a longitudinally arranged series of work supporting stations including a starting station at which workpieces are deposited axially, a delivery station from which workpieces are removed serially, and a plurality of intermediate stations through which workpieces are advanced intermittently and from which individual workpieces may be removed, sensing means associated with said stations to determine empty stations, feed means associated with each station except the discharge station operable to advance a workpiece from its station to the next successive station, and control means responsive to the sensing of the absence of a workpiece at the delivery or any intermediate station to activate the feed means of every station in rear of the empty station to simultaneously advance a workpiece to the next successive station, said control means comprising an elongated support, a segmental bar composed of elongated normally end-abutting segments pivoted to said support, said sensing means being operable to pivot a particular one, including an intermediate one of said segments relative to said support, pivotal movement of any of said segments by said sensing means being transmitted to all segments located in the direction toward which said particular segment swings.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as defined in claim 14, said segments each being pivoted to said support by parallel links.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as defined in claim 15, means for reciprocating said support and said sensing means comprising abutment means movable into operative engagement with any one or more of said segments.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
88 words
Control means comprising a reciprocable elongated support, a series of elements movably mounted on said support, abutment means acting between each adjacent pair of elements, sensing means for each of said elements comprising an abutment movable into the path said element traverses upon reciprocation of said support and operable to Move the particular associated element relative to said support, the abutment means acting between adjacent pairs of elements being effective to cause corresponding movement of all elements in the series located in one direction from the particular element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
88 words
Control means comprising a reciprocable elongated support, a series of elements movably mounted on said support, abutment means acting between each adjacent pair of elements, sensing means for each of said elements comprising an abutment movable into the path said element traverses upon reciprocation of said support and operable to Move the particular associated element relative to said support, the abutment means acting between adjacent pairs of elements being effective to cause corresponding movement of all elements in the series located in one direction from the particular element.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
59 words
Structure as defined in claim 17 in which said elements are elongated parallel normally aligned elements, parallel links pivoting each of said elements to said support, said elements being in end-abutment such that movement of any element swings such element away from one adjacent element and imparts like swinging movement to the remaining adjacent element and all elements therebeyond.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
65 words
Structure as defined in claim 17 in which the abutment means acting between adjacent pairs of elements are active in one direction only so that when all elements are in like position and an intermediate one of said elements is moved in one direction, it will move away from one adjacent element and impart like movement to the other adjacent element and all elements therebeyond.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
54 words
Structure as defined in claim 17 in which said elements are elongated parallel normally aligned elements in end abutment, guide means for each of said elements effective upon movement of one intermediate element in one direction to maintain the ends of all elements in the direction of movement of said one element in abutment.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
337 words
An accumulating feed system comprising: a series of work support stations including a starting station at which workpieces are deposited serially, a delivery station from which workpieces are removed serially, and a plurality of intermediate stations between which workpieces are advanced intermittently; sensing means associated with said stations and having first and second positions corresponding respectively to the presence or absence of a workpiece at the associated station; a transfer slide movable along said series of stations; an actuator for moving said slide in forward feeding and reverse idle strokes; individually movable work feed devices carried by said slide for movement thereon between a feed position in which the devices effect feeding movement of associated workpieces upon feeding movement of said slide and an idle position in which said devices leave the associated workpieces at rest during feeding movement of said slide; means responsive to the presence or absence of workpieces at each station to ensure that at the next forward movement of said slide, the position of the feed device associated with the workpiece to the rear of the foremost empty station and all feed devices to the rear thereof are in their feed positions; said means comprising a series of members independently movable between feed and idle positions, each of said members being operatively connected to one of said feed devices and operable to ensure that when one of said members is moved to its feed position the associated feed device occupies its feed position; means for effecting relative movement between all of said members and said sensing means, said members if in idle position being engageable upon such relative movement with sensing means at empty stations to move said members to feed position; said members having rigid abutting portions acting directly between said members operable to ensure that when any one member is moved from idle to feed position, all members to the rear of said one member occupy feed position while all members ahead of said one member continue to occupy idle position.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
337 words
An accumulating feed system comprising: a series of work support stations including a starting station at which workpieces are deposited serially, a delivery station from which workpieces are removed serially, and a plurality of intermediate stations between which workpieces are advanced intermittently; sensing means associated with said stations and having first and second positions corresponding respectively to the presence or absence of a workpiece at the associated station; a transfer slide movable along said series of stations; an actuator for moving said slide in forward feeding and reverse idle strokes; individually movable work feed devices carried by said slide for movement thereon between a feed position in which the devices effect feeding movement of associated workpieces upon feeding movement of said slide and an idle position in which said devices leave the associated workpieces at rest during feeding movement of said slide; means responsive to the presence or absence of workpieces at each station to ensure that at the next forward movement of said slide, the position of the feed device associated with the workpiece to the rear of the foremost empty station and all feed devices to the rear thereof are in their feed positions; said means comprising a series of members independently movable between feed and idle positions, each of said members being operatively connected to one of said feed devices and operable to ensure that when one of said members is moved to its feed position the associated feed device occupies its feed position; means for effecting relative movement between all of said members and said sensing means, said members if in idle position being engageable upon such relative movement with sensing means at empty stations to move said members to feed position; said members having rigid abutting portions acting directly between said members operable to ensure that when any one member is moved from idle to feed position, all members to the rear of said one member occupy feed position while all members ahead of said one member continue to occupy idle position.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system as defined in claim 21 in which said mechanical connections also ensure that when any member is moved from feed to idle position, all members ahead of said last mentioned member occupy idle position while all members to the rear of said last mentioned member continue to occupy feed position.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as defined in claim 21 in which said members are rigid elongated members positioned in general alignment with the series of stations, and said abutting portions are the enDs of said members.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as defined in claim 23 in which said members are individually mounted on parallel links.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as defined in claim 21 in which the means for effecting relative movement between all of said members and said sensing means comprises a carrier movable along said series of stations.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as defined in claim 21 in which the means for effecting relative movement between all of said members and said sensing means comprises a control bar movable independently of said transfer slide.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as defined in claim 21 in which said feed devices each comprises an overcenter device biased by gravity to remain in whichever of its two positions it occupies.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as defined in claim 21 in which the operative connection between each of said members and its associated feed device is a one-way abutment between rigid portions thereof.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as defined in claim 21 in which said feed device comprises dogs engageable with the workpieces and operable to push them from station to station.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as defined in claim 29 in which said dogs are returned to idle position by engagement with workpieces when traversing occupied stations during the reverse idle stroke of said transfer slide.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
335 words
An accumulating feed system comprising a series of work support stations including a starting station at which workpieces are deposited serially, a delivery station from which workpieces are removed serially, and a plurality of uniformly spaced intermediate stations between which workpieces are advanced intermittently, movable rigid sensing elements associated with said stations each having two positions corresponding to the presence or absence of a workpiece at the associated station and including an actuating portion movable between idle and actuating positions upon movement of said element, a transfer slide movable along said series of stations, means for reciprocating said slide in forward feeding and reverse strokes, a work transfer device for each station except the delivery station, and operable when activated to be moved by said transfer slide on forward feeding movement thereof to transfer a workpiece from its associated station to the station next ahead thereof, and means for controlling activation of said work transfer devices in accordance with the positions of said sensing means comprising a series of members disposed along said series of stations at intervals substantially equal to the spacing between said stations, said members being supported for like back and forth movement of the same sense between limiting positions which determine activation or nonactivation of the associated work transfer device, each of said members being independently and selectively movable between said limiting positions as a consequence of the position of the sensing element, each intermediate one of said members having one way engagement with one of the next adjacent members to effect movement thereof in the same sense as movement of said one intermediate member when said one intermediate member and said one next adjacent member occupy like positions prior to such movement, and having one way engagement with the other of the next adjacent members to effect movement thereof upon movement of said one intermediate member in the opposite sense when said one intermediate member and said other next adjacent member occupy like positions prior to such last mentioned movement.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
335 words
An accumulating feed system comprising a series of work support stations including a starting station at which workpieces are deposited serially, a delivery station from which workpieces are removed serially, and a plurality of uniformly spaced intermediate stations between which workpieces are advanced intermittently, movable rigid sensing elements associated with said stations each having two positions corresponding to the presence or absence of a workpiece at the associated station and including an actuating portion movable between idle and actuating positions upon movement of said element, a transfer slide movable along said series of stations, means for reciprocating said slide in forward feeding and reverse strokes, a work transfer device for each station except the delivery station, and operable when activated to be moved by said transfer slide on forward feeding movement thereof to transfer a workpiece from its associated station to the station next ahead thereof, and means for controlling activation of said work transfer devices in accordance with the positions of said sensing means comprising a series of members disposed along said series of stations at intervals substantially equal to the spacing between said stations, said members being supported for like back and forth movement of the same sense between limiting positions which determine activation or nonactivation of the associated work transfer device, each of said members being independently and selectively movable between said limiting positions as a consequence of the position of the sensing element, each intermediate one of said members having one way engagement with one of the next adjacent members to effect movement thereof in the same sense as movement of said one intermediate member when said one intermediate member and said one next adjacent member occupy like positions prior to such movement, and having one way engagement with the other of the next adjacent members to effect movement thereof upon movement of said one intermediate member in the opposite sense when said one intermediate member and said other next adjacent member occupy like positions prior to such last mentioned movement.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as defined in claim 31 in which said members comprise a series of aligned elongated members in end abutment when occupying like positions.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as defined in claim 33 in which the back and forth movement of said members include components extending along said series of stations.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3322259A
Cited
US3369650A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-15 | 1974-09-14 | 1975-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-15 | 1978-09-14 | 1979-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-15 | 1982-09-14 | 1983-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |