Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
A feeder mechanism comprising a rotatable driving element, a driven element rotatably mounted on and movable with said driving element, the axis of rotation of said driven element being spaced from the axis of rotation of said driving element, a fixed cam disposed adjacent said driving element, a cam surface formed in said cam and disposed about the axis of rotation of said driving element, and a pair of cam followers attached to said driven element and spaced radially from the axis of rotation thereof, said cam surface having at least one segment the extremity of which is spaced radially from the remainder of said cam surface by a distance at least as great as the radial spacing of sAid cam followers from the axis of said driven element, said cam followers being arranged to engage and to follow said cam surface in a predetermined sequence during one portion of a revolution of said driving means and in a different sequence during another portion of a revolution of said driving means thereby to impart rotation to said driven element relative to said driving element in coordination with rotation of said driving element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
A feeder mechanism comprising a rotatable driving element, a driven element rotatably mounted on and movable with said driving element, the axis of rotation of said driven element being spaced from the axis of rotation of said driving element, a fixed cam disposed adjacent said driving element, a cam surface formed in said cam and disposed about the axis of rotation of said driving element, and a pair of cam followers attached to said driven element and spaced radially from the axis of rotation thereof, said cam surface having at least one segment the extremity of which is spaced radially from the remainder of said cam surface by a distance at least as great as the radial spacing of sAid cam followers from the axis of said driven element, said cam followers being arranged to engage and to follow said cam surface in a predetermined sequence during one portion of a revolution of said driving means and in a different sequence during another portion of a revolution of said driving means thereby to impart rotation to said driven element relative to said driving element in coordination with rotation of said driving element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
180 words
A feeder mechanism comprising a rotatable driving element, a driven element rotatably mounted on and movable with said driving element, the axis of rotation of said driven element being spaced from the axis of rotation of said driving element, a fixed cam disposed adjacent said driving element, a cam surface formed in said cam and disposed about the axis of rotation of said driving element and forming an irregular path thereabout, said cam surface being configured so as to form a pair of segments which protrude radially outward from the axis of rotation of said driving element, and a pair of cam followers attached to said driven element and spaced radially from the axis of rotation thereof, said cam followers being arranged to engage and to follow said cam surface in a predetermined sequence during one portion of a revolution of said driving means and in a different sequence during another portion of a revolution of said driving means thereby to impart rotation to said driven element relative to said driving element in coordination with rotation of said driving element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
180 words
A feeder mechanism comprising a rotatable driving element, a driven element rotatably mounted on and movable with said driving element, the axis of rotation of said driven element being spaced from the axis of rotation of said driving element, a fixed cam disposed adjacent said driving element, a cam surface formed in said cam and disposed about the axis of rotation of said driving element and forming an irregular path thereabout, said cam surface being configured so as to form a pair of segments which protrude radially outward from the axis of rotation of said driving element, and a pair of cam followers attached to said driven element and spaced radially from the axis of rotation thereof, said cam followers being arranged to engage and to follow said cam surface in a predetermined sequence during one portion of a revolution of said driving means and in a different sequence during another portion of a revolution of said driving means thereby to impart rotation to said driven element relative to said driving element in coordination with rotation of said driving element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
214 words
A feeder mechanism comprising a rotatable driving element, a driven element rotatably mounted on and movable with said driving element, the axis of rotation of said driven element being spaced from the axis of rotation of said driving element, a fixed cam disposed adjacent said driving element, a cam surface formed in said cam and disposed about the axis of rotation of said driving element and forming an irregular path thereabout, said cam surface being configured so as to form a pair of segments which protrude radially outward from the axis of rotation of said driving element, a pair of cam followers attached to said driven element and spaced radially from the axis of rotation thereof, said cam followers being arranged to engage and to follow said cam surface in a predetermined sequence during one portion of a revolution of said driving means and in a different sequence during another portion of a revolution of said driving means thereby to impart rotation to said driven element relative to said driving element in coordination with rotation of said driving element, and a guide pawl movably mounted on said fixed cam adjacent one of said outwardly protruding segments and being disposed and configured to engage and guide one of said cam followers into said one segment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
214 words
A feeder mechanism comprising a rotatable driving element, a driven element rotatably mounted on and movable with said driving element, the axis of rotation of said driven element being spaced from the axis of rotation of said driving element, a fixed cam disposed adjacent said driving element, a cam surface formed in said cam and disposed about the axis of rotation of said driving element and forming an irregular path thereabout, said cam surface being configured so as to form a pair of segments which protrude radially outward from the axis of rotation of said driving element, a pair of cam followers attached to said driven element and spaced radially from the axis of rotation thereof, said cam followers being arranged to engage and to follow said cam surface in a predetermined sequence during one portion of a revolution of said driving means and in a different sequence during another portion of a revolution of said driving means thereby to impart rotation to said driven element relative to said driving element in coordination with rotation of said driving element, and a guide pawl movably mounted on said fixed cam adjacent one of said outwardly protruding segments and being disposed and configured to engage and guide one of said cam followers into said one segment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A feeder mechanism according to claim 3 wherein a movable cam is mounted on and movable with said driving element and wherein a pawl cam follower is mounted on and movable with said guide pawl and arranged to cooperate with said movable cam to impart operating movement to said guide pawl.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A feeder mechanism according to claim 4 wherein biasing means is provided for urging said pawl cam follower into operable relationship with said movable cam whereby movement of said one cam follower out of said one segment is accommodated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
A feeder mechanism according to claim 3 wherein a guide block is fixedly mounted on said fixed cam adjacent the other outwardly protruding segment of said cam surface and wherein said guide block is disposed and configured to engage and guide the other of said cam followers into and out of said other segment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A feeder mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said driving element constitutes a housing enclosing said fixed cam and said cam followers and wherein lubricating material is disposed within said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
193 words
A feeder mechanism comprising a rotatable driving element, a driven element rotatably mounted on and movable with said driving element, said driving eLement constituting a housing and said driven element being journaled in a wall of said housing with a portion of said driven element disposed inside said housing and with a portion thereof disposed outside said housing and the axis of rotation of said driven element being spaced from the axis of rotation of said driving element, a fixed cam disposed adjacent said driving element, a cam surface formed in said cam and disposed about the axis of rotation of said driving element and, forming an irregular path thereabout, and a pair of cam followers attached to said driven element and spaced radially from the axis of rotation thereof, said cam followers being arranged to engage and to follow said cam surface in a predetermined sequence during one portion of a revolution of said driving means and in a different sequence during another portion of a revolution of said driving means thereby to impart rotation to said driven element relative to said driving element in coordination with rotation of said driving element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
193 words
A feeder mechanism comprising a rotatable driving element, a driven element rotatably mounted on and movable with said driving element, said driving eLement constituting a housing and said driven element being journaled in a wall of said housing with a portion of said driven element disposed inside said housing and with a portion thereof disposed outside said housing and the axis of rotation of said driven element being spaced from the axis of rotation of said driving element, a fixed cam disposed adjacent said driving element, a cam surface formed in said cam and disposed about the axis of rotation of said driving element and, forming an irregular path thereabout, and a pair of cam followers attached to said driven element and spaced radially from the axis of rotation thereof, said cam followers being arranged to engage and to follow said cam surface in a predetermined sequence during one portion of a revolution of said driving means and in a different sequence during another portion of a revolution of said driving means thereby to impart rotation to said driven element relative to said driving element in coordination with rotation of said driving element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A feeder mechanism according to claim 8 wherein a motion-tracing element is affixed to said driven element outside said housing and constructed and arranged so as to duplicate the motion of one of said cam followers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A feeder mechanism according to claim 9 wherein an article pickup element is pivotally connected with said motion-tracing element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A feeder mechanism according to claim 10 wherein a radial guide link is pivotally connected with said motion-tracing element and wherein said driving element is driven by a rotatable shaft, said shaft and said guide link being interconnected by a lost-motion connection.