Conveyor and method of conveying objects having cylindrical surfaces

Claim 2

A conveyor for moving an object having a cylindrical surface, said conveyor comprising: first means for moving said object from a first position to a second position along an arcuate path; second means for receiving said object from said first means and for moving said object from said second position to a third position along an arcuate path; third means for receiving said object from said second means and moving said object from said third position to a fourth position along an arcuate path; each of said moving means including: a shaft to define an axis for said arcuate path; means mounting said shaft on a frame; two saddle members pivotably mounted in spaced relationship on said shaft and having respective concave cylindrical surfaces for engaging the cylindrical surface of said object for maintaining said object''s surface and said saddle member''s surfaces substantially stationary relative to one another when they are in engagement during movement along respective arcuate paths; a torque tube concentric with said shaft and having its opposite ends respectively attached to said saddle members; and an operating lever having one end attached to said torque tube and the other end attached to a fluid actuated cylinder means for applying torque to said saddle members for moving said object along said arcuate path.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein said respective concave cylindrical surfaces on said two saddle members are formed from a resilient padding material.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1 further including means for producing a respective signal when said object is in any of the four mentioned positions and when said object is at an intermediate position between any of the four mentioned positions.

Claim 5

A conveyor for moving an object having a cylindrical surface, said conveyor comprising: first means for moving said object from a first position to a second position along a first arcuate path so as to displace said object in such manner that the axis of said object in said second position is parallel to the axis of said object when in said position, said first moving means including: a. means for defining a first axis for said first arcuate path; b. a first pair of pivotable saddle members mounted in axially spaced relationship of said first axis defining means, said first saddle member having respective first concave cylindrical surfaces for engaging the cylindrical surface of said object to substantially prevent movement of said object with respect to said first cylindrical surfaces and the axis of each of said first cylindrical surfaces being aligned with respect to one anotHer and in parallel spaced relationship from said first axis; and c. first saddle pivoting means operatively connected to said first saddle members for pivoting said first saddle members about said first axis; second means for receiving said object from said first means and for moving said object from said second position to a third position along a second arcuate path so as to displace said object in such manner that the axis of said object in said third position is parallel to the axis of said object when in said second position, said second moving means including: a. means for defining a second axis for said second arcuate path, said second axis being in parallel spaced relationship from said first axis; b. a second pair of pivotable saddle members mounted in axially spaced relationship on said second axis defining means in offset relationship with respect to said first saddle members so as to permit said first and second saddle members to be interleaved, said second saddle members having respective second concave cylindrical surfaces for engaging the cylindrical surface of said object to substantially prevent movement of said object with respect to said second concave cylindrical surfaces and the axis of each of said second concave cylindrical surfaces being aligned with respect to one another and in parallel spaced relationship from said second axis; and c. second saddle pivoting means operatively connected to said second saddle members for pivoting said second saddle members about said second axis so that when said first and second saddle members are in said second position said first and second saddle members are in interleaving relationship for transfer of said cylindrical object without substantial rolling of said object during the transfer thereof.

Claim 6

A conveyor for moving an object having a cylindrical surface, said conveyor comprising: first means for moving said object from a first position to a second position along a first arcuate path so as to displace said object in such manner that the axis of said object in said second position is parallel to the axis of said object when in said position, said first moving means including: a. means for defining a first axis for said first arcuate path; b. a first pair of pivotable saddle members mounted in axially spaced relationship of said first axis defining means, said first saddle member having respective first concave cylindrical surfaces for engaging the cylindrical surface of said object to substantially prevent movement of said object with respect to said first cylindrical surfaces and the axis of each of said first cylindrical surfaces being aligned with respect to one anotHer and in parallel spaced relationship from said first axis; and c. first saddle pivoting means operatively connected to said first saddle members for pivoting said first saddle members about said first axis; second means for receiving said object from said first means and for moving said object from said second position to a third position along a second arcuate path so as to displace said object in such manner that the axis of said object in said third position is parallel to the axis of said object when in said second position, said second moving means including: a. means for defining a second axis for said second arcuate path, said second axis being in parallel spaced relationship from said first axis; b. a second pair of pivotable saddle members mounted in axially spaced relationship on said second axis defining means in offset relationship with respect to said first saddle members so as to permit said first and second saddle members to be interleaved, said second saddle members having respective second concave cylindrical surfaces for engaging the cylindrical surface of said object to substantially prevent movement of said object with respect to said second concave cylindrical surfaces and the axis of each of said second concave cylindrical surfaces being aligned with respect to one another and in parallel spaced relationship from said second axis; and c. second saddle pivoting means operatively connected to said second saddle members for pivoting said second saddle members about said second axis so that when said first and second saddle members are in said second position said first and second saddle members are in interleaving relationship for transfer of said cylindrical object without substantial rolling of said object during the transfer thereof.

Claim 7

The invention according to claim 4 wherein said first and second axis defining means each includes a shaft for mounting a respective pair of saddle members and wherein said first and second saddle pivoting means each includes: a torque tube concentric with a respective shaft; and an operating lever having one end attached to said torque tube and the other end attached to a fluid actuated cylinder means for applying torque to said respective pair of saddle members for moving said object along the respective arcuate path.