Method and apparatus for transferring articles and the like

Claim 3

The method according to claim 1 wherein the articles being transferred while being advanced in the direction of travel from the first array to the second array are simultaneously moved in a direction orthogonally thereto.

Claim 4

The method according to claim 2, wherein predetermined fractions of the plurality of articles are removed from a continuous medium and transferred to their respective positions in the other array.

Claim 5

In a blister packaging operation, the method of transferring a plurality of blisters formed in a sheet of blister material and arranged therein in an array, from the sheet to positions in another array spaced in a center-to-center relationship different than the spacing of the blisters formed in the sheet, comprising the steps of: a. supplying the sheet; b. engaging the blister with a vacuum means in order to separate the blisters from the sheet; c. moving the separated blisters away from the sheet in a first direction; and d. moving the separated blisters in a second direction different than said first direction prior to releasing thE blisters in the other array thereby changing the center-to-center relationship.

Claim 6

In a blister packaging operation, the method of transferring a plurality of blisters formed in a sheet of blister material and arranged therein in an array, from the sheet to positions in another array spaced in a center-to-center relationship different than the spacing of the blisters formed in the sheet, comprising the steps of: a. supplying the sheet; b. engaging the blister with a vacuum means in order to separate the blisters from the sheet; c. moving the separated blisters away from the sheet in a first direction; and d. moving the separated blisters in a second direction different than said first direction prior to releasing thE blisters in the other array thereby changing the center-to-center relationship.

Claim 7

The method according to claim 4, wherein the resultant motion of a blister during the moving steps is vectorially resolvable into motion components having mutually orthogonal directions.

Claim 8

The method according to claim 5, wherein predetermined fractions of the plurality of blisters are removed from the sheet and transferred to their respective positions in the other array.

Claim 9

The method according to claim 6, wherein rows of at least two end and a middle adjacently spaced blister indentations formed on the sheet are supplied, a plurality of indentations at a time, and removed and transferred therefrom, and which further includes the steps of transferring the end blisters in each row in directions that differ from the direction of transfer taken by the middle blister.

Claim 10

The method according to claim 6, wherein rows of adjacent blister indentations formed on the sheet are supplied, a plurality of indentations at a time, and removed and transferred therefrom.

Claim 11

An article transfer machine for transferring articles from means for supplying a plurality of articles arranged in an array of articles, said machine comprising means for separating articles from the plurality of articles being supplied, means for moving the separated articles away from the supply in one direction and means for simultaneously moving the separated articles in another direction orthogonal to the one direction during the movement of the articles to their respective positions in another array, the article positions in the other array being spaced in a center-to-center relationship different from the center-to-center relationship of the articles in the supplied array.

Claim 12

An article transfer machine for transferring articles from means for supplying a plurality of articles arranged in an array of articles, said machine comprising means for separating articles from the plurality of articles being supplied, means for moving the separated articles away from the supply in one direction and means for simultaneously moving the separated articles in another direction orthogonal to the one direction during the movement of the articles to their respective positions in another array, the article positions in the other array being spaced in a center-to-center relationship different from the center-to-center relationship of the articles in the supplied array.

Claim 13

An article transfer machine in accordance with claim 9 and further comprising means for receiving the other predetermined array of articles.

Claim 14

An article transfer machine in accordance with claim 9 in which said moving means includes transfer arm means for conveying a supplied article from its position in the array to its position in the other array.

Claim 15

An article transfer machine in accordance with claim 11 in which said transfer arm means includes means for picking up a supplied article.

Claim 16

An article transfer machine in accordance with claim 12 and including: i. means for supporting said picking up means for movement with respect to said transfer arm means, and ii. means mounted on said supporting means for moving said picking up means with respect to said transfer arm means in a direction at an angle to the direction of the movement of said transfer arm means as said transfer arm means conveys a supplied article, whereby said moving means causes the center-to-center relationship of the other array to be different from that of the array.

Claim 17

An article transfer machine in accordance with claim 11, wherein said moving means includes means for imparting cyclic motion to said transfer arm means, said imparting means being so constructed and arranged that said transfer arm means in response thereto undergoes resultant motion that is vectorially resolvable into motion components having mutually orthogonal directions, thereby to convey a supplied article from a position in the array to a position in the other array.

Claim 18

An article transfer machine in accordance with claim 14 wherein said imparting means includes: i. means for supporting said transfer arm means; ii. means for moving said supporting means; and iii. means for guiding said transfer arm means in the direction of said resultant motion during the motion of said support means.

Claim 19

An article transfer machine for transferring articles from a means for supplying a plurality of articles arranged in a medium to form an array of articles, said machine comprising: means for separating the supplied articles from the medium and for moving the separated articles to their respective positions in another array, the article positIons in other array being spaced in a center-to-center relationship that is different from the center-to-center relationship of the articles in the array, said separating and moving means including: i. a stationary support means; ii. mounting plate means slidably positioned on said support means; iii. means for reciprocating said plate means; iiii. a bearing secured to said plate means; v. a rotatable shaft journaled in said bearing; vi. transfer arm means mounted on said shaft and rotating therewith for conveying a separated article from its position in the array to its position in the other array, said arm means adapted to move longitudinally on said shaft during movement of said plate means, said arm means including vacuum-operated means for picking up a supplied article; vii. and means responsive to the rotation of said shaft in a first direction for rotating said vacuum-operated means in a second direction, said rotating means including a member pivotally mounted on said mounting plate means and an elongated guide shaft secured to said device means and slidably journaled through said member.

Claim 20

An article transfer machine for transferring articles from a means for supplying a plurality of articles arranged in a medium to form an array of articles, said machine comprising: means for separating the supplied articles from the medium and for moving the separated articles to their respective positions in another array, the article positIons in other array being spaced in a center-to-center relationship that is different from the center-to-center relationship of the articles in the array, said separating and moving means including: i. a stationary support means; ii. mounting plate means slidably positioned on said support means; iii. means for reciprocating said plate means; iiii. a bearing secured to said plate means; v. a rotatable shaft journaled in said bearing; vi. transfer arm means mounted on said shaft and rotating therewith for conveying a separated article from its position in the array to its position in the other array, said arm means adapted to move longitudinally on said shaft during movement of said plate means, said arm means including vacuum-operated means for picking up a supplied article; vii. and means responsive to the rotation of said shaft in a first direction for rotating said vacuum-operated means in a second direction, said rotating means including a member pivotally mounted on said mounting plate means and an elongated guide shaft secured to said device means and slidably journaled through said member.

Claim 21

An article transfer apparatus for transferring an article from means for supplying a plurality of articles on a web, said apparatus comprising means for removing the articles from the web and for transferring the removed articles by first rotating them away from the supply and further moving the articles in a direction extending substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, thereby to form an array of consecutive rows of individual articles spaced in a center-to-center relationship different from that of the articles being supplied.

Claim 22

An article transfer apparatus for transferring an article from means for supplying a plurality of articles on a web, said apparatus comprising means for removing the articles from the web and for transferring the removed articles by first rotating them away from the supply and further moving the articles in a direction extending substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, thereby to form an array of consecutive rows of individual articles spaced in a center-to-center relationship different from that of the articles being supplied.

Claim 23

A blister transfer apparatus for transferring a blister from means for supplying a web having formed thereon a plurality of blisters, said apparatus comprising means including means for removing the blisters from the web and means for transferring the removed blisters by first rotating them away from the supply and further moving the articles in a direction extending substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, thereby to form an array of rows of individual blisters spaced in a center-to-center relationship different from that in the web.

Claim 24

A blister transfer apparatus for transferring a blister from means for supplying a web having formed thereon a plurality of blisters, said apparatus comprising means including means for removing the blisters from the web and means for transferring the removed blisters by first rotating them away from the supply and further moving the articles in a direction extending substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, thereby to form an array of rows of individual blisters spaced in a center-to-center relationship different from that in the web.

Claim 25

The blister transfer apparatus according to claim 18 in which the means for transferring the removed blisters includes at least one transfer arm means for conveying a removed blister along a path which varies from the path along which the web is supplied.

Claim 26

The blister transfer apparatus according to claim 18 in which said means for transferring the removed blisters includes: i. a rotatable shaft; ii. at least one transfer arm mounted on the shaft and adapted to be moved longitudinally on the shaft for conveying a removed blister along a path which varies in direction from that of the path along which the web is supplied; iii. means for rotating the shaft; and iiii. means for moving said transfer arm longitudinally on the shaft as said transfer arm conveys a removed blister.

Claim 27

The blister transfer apparatus according to claim 18 in which said means for transferring the removed blisters includes: i. a guide rod which varies in direction from the path along which the web is supplied; ii. a transfer arm journaled on said rod for conveying removed blisters along the varying paths; and iii. means for moving said transfer arm with respect to said rod.

Claim 28

A machine for transferring articles from means for supplying articles to a first location comprising: a. a carriage, b. means for conveying said carriage along a path of travel extending from the first location to a second location spaced apart therefrom, c. means mounted upon said carriage for selectively engaging an article at the first location and during the conveying of said conveying means between the first location and the second location and for disengaging the article at the second location, said means for selectively engaging and disengAging an article comprises: i. a vacuum cup device facing the article to be transferred, and ii. means for selectively applying vacuum to said cup device at the first location and during the conveying of said carriage between the first and second location and for terminating the vacuum applied to said cup device at the second location, and iii. means for selectively advancing said vacuum cup device adjacent to the article at the first location and for retracting said cup device during the conveying to the second station, and d. means for moving said article engaging and disengaging means with respect to said carriage in a direction extending at an angle to the direction of carriage travel, whereby the movement of said article engaging and disengaging means with respect to said carriage causes the position of the article with respect to the path of conveying of said carriage to vary between the first and second locations.

Claim 29

A machine for transferring articles from means for supplying articles to a first location comprising: a. a carriage, b. means for conveying said carriage along a path of travel extending from the first location to a second location spaced apart therefrom, c. means mounted upon said carriage for selectively engaging an article at the first location and during the conveying of said conveying means between the first location and the second location and for disengaging the article at the second location, said means for selectively engaging and disengAging an article comprises: i. a vacuum cup device facing the article to be transferred, and ii. means for selectively applying vacuum to said cup device at the first location and during the conveying of said carriage between the first and second location and for terminating the vacuum applied to said cup device at the second location, and iii. means for selectively advancing said vacuum cup device adjacent to the article at the first location and for retracting said cup device during the conveying to the second station, and d. means for moving said article engaging and disengaging means with respect to said carriage in a direction extending at an angle to the direction of carriage travel, whereby the movement of said article engaging and disengaging means with respect to said carriage causes the position of the article with respect to the path of conveying of said carriage to vary between the first and second locations.

Claim 30

A machine in accordance with claim 22 in which said advancing and retracting means is advanced at the second location to deposit the article upon a receiving surface.

Claim 31

A machine in accordance with claim 22 in which said advancing and retracting means comprises an actuator device for advancing said cup device away from said carriage and for retracting said cup d3vice toward said carriage.

Claim 32

A machine in accordance with claim 22 in which said means for moving said article engaging and disengaging means with respect to said carriage means comprises a guide member coupled to said engaging and disengaging means and extending at an angle to the direction of travel of said carriage, whereby said guide member directs the position of the article with respect to the path of conveying to vary between the first and second locations.

Claim 35

In a blister packaging operation, the method of transferring a plurality of blisters formed in a sheet of blister material and arranged therein in an array with a predetermined center-to-center relationship between adjacent blisters, the blisters being transferred from the sheet to positions in another array comprising the steps of: a. supplying the sheet; b. separating the blisters from the sheet; c. transferring the separated blisters to their respective positions in the other array; and d. changing the center-to-center relationship of the separated blisters for at least a portion of the movement of the separated blisters being transferred to the other array by moving the articles with respect to one another in a direction different than that of moving the articles to the article position.

Claim 36

In a blister packaging operation, the method of transferring a plurality of blisters formed in a sheet of blister material and arranged therein in an array with a predetermined center-to-center relationship between adjacent blisters, the blisters being transferred from the sheet to positions in another array comprising the steps of: a. supplying the sheet; b. separating the blisters from the sheet; c. transferring the separated blisters to their respective positions in the other array; and d. changing the center-to-center relationship of the separated blisters for at least a portion of the movement of the separated blisters being transferred to the other array by moving the articles with respect to one another in a direction different than that of moving the articles to the article position.

Claim 37

An article transfer machine for transferring articles from means for supplying a plurality of articles arranged in an array of articles, said machine comprising: a. means for separating articles from the plurality of articles being supplied; b. means for moving the separated articles to their respective positions in another array; and c. means for changing the center-to-center relationship of the separated articles for at least a portion of the movement of the articles to the other array by moving the articles with respect to one another in a direction orthogonal to that of moving the articles to the article position.

Claim 38

An article transfer machine for transferring articles from means for supplying a plurality of articles arranged in an array of articles, said machine comprising: a. means for separating articles from the plurality of articles being supplied; b. means for moving the separated articles to their respective positions in another array; and c. means for changing the center-to-center relationship of the separated articles for at least a portion of the movement of the articles to the other array by moving the articles with respect to one another in a direction orthogonal to that of moving the articles to the article position.

Claim 39

A machine for transferring articles compriSing: i. a rotatable shaft; ii. means for reciprocating said shaft about its longitudinal axis; iii. a transfer arm mounted adjacent one end thereof on said shaft and moving therewith; iiii. means pivotally mounted adjacent the other end of said transfer arm for engaging an article to be transferred, said engaging means having the engaging portion thereof maintained at a fixed distance from the pivotal connection therebetween; iiiii. a guide block pivotally mounted with respect to the frame of the machine; and iiiiii. means for pivotally and slidingly connecting said engaging means for said guide block to cause said engaging means to revolve in a direction opposite to that of said rotatable shaft and transfer the article.

Claim 40

A machine for transferring articles compriSing: i. a rotatable shaft; ii. means for reciprocating said shaft about its longitudinal axis; iii. a transfer arm mounted adjacent one end thereof on said shaft and moving therewith; iiii. means pivotally mounted adjacent the other end of said transfer arm for engaging an article to be transferred, said engaging means having the engaging portion thereof maintained at a fixed distance from the pivotal connection therebetween; iiiii. a guide block pivotally mounted with respect to the frame of the machine; and iiiiii. means for pivotally and slidingly connecting said engaging means for said guide block to cause said engaging means to revolve in a direction opposite to that of said rotatable shaft and transfer the article.

Claim 41

A machine for transferring articles in accordance with claim 29 wherein said engaging means in response to said connecting means faces in a substantially horizontal direction when engaging the formed article to be transferred and faces downwardly in a substantially vertical position when releasing the article which has been transferred.

Claim 42

A machine for transferring articles in accordance with claim 29 wherein said engaging means comprises a vacuum pickup means.

Claim 43

A machine for transferring articles in accordance with claim 31 which further includes means for applying vacuum between said pickup means and the article during engagement and transferring of the article and for terminating the vacuum between said pickup means the article when releasing and depositing the article.