US3598229A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Article conveyor
Assignee: Corning Glass Works
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Filing: 1969-12-01
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Granted: 1971-08-10
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Expires: 1989-12-01
Abstract
Abstract A conveyor for transporting or conveying a succession or plurality of relatively elongate articles through a looped path of travel for operations or work to be performed thereon. Each such article may comprise, for purposes of example only, a bundle of fiber optics at least one end of which is to be trimmed and thereafter polished to provide a suitable light-transmitting optical surface thereon. The conveyor comprises a pair of first and second articulated chains which carry, respectively, a succession of article support members each of which have channels therein for receiving an end portion of one of said articles to be transported or conveyed and inserted therein, and a succession of article clamping members, one associated with each said support member, for clamping each said article inserted in the channel of the respectively associated support member to generally maintain the article in its respective support member in the general attitude in which it is initially inserted in the channel of the support member.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony A Spycher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:04
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G17/00; B65G17/30; B65G17/32; B65G17/326; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
363 words
A article conveyor supported for movement in a selected direction through a looped path of travel such conveyor comprising; A. an articulated side-by-side pair of similar endless chains each including first and second spaced apart successions of link plates pivotally mounted on first and second opposite ends, respectively, of pivot pins to provide pivotal coupling between the link plates of each respective succession thereof, alternate link plates of at least one succession of such plates on each said chain each having an ear portion projecting from the center of the respective link plate in a direction outboard of the respective chain and such ear portions on one of said pair of chains being in staggered relationships with such portions on the other of said pair of chains in directions extending straight across the widths of such chains; B. an article support member affixed to each said ear portion of each of said link plates of one of said chains, each such member including a channel therein having an open side outboard of the respective chain for receipt in such channel of the outer periphery of a first end portion of an elongate article to be conveyed by said conveyor and each such channel having a width slightly larger than said outer periphery of said article; C. an article-clamping member associated with each said support member and each affixed to one of said ear portions of each of said link plates of the other of said chains, each such clamping member having, on the forward side thereof, for said direction of movement through said looped path of travel, a groove for receipt therein of the rearward wall of a second end portion of the elongate article supported by the respectively associated support member, such second end portion of the elongate article adjoining said first end portion thereof and each said clamping member having on the rearward side thereof, for said direction of movement through said looped path of travel, a leaf spring means for contacting the forward wall of the second end portion of a similar one of said articles disposed in said channel of the support member immediately following each preceding support member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
363 words
A article conveyor supported for movement in a selected direction through a looped path of travel such conveyor comprising; A. an articulated side-by-side pair of similar endless chains each including first and second spaced apart successions of link plates pivotally mounted on first and second opposite ends, respectively, of pivot pins to provide pivotal coupling between the link plates of each respective succession thereof, alternate link plates of at least one succession of such plates on each said chain each having an ear portion projecting from the center of the respective link plate in a direction outboard of the respective chain and such ear portions on one of said pair of chains being in staggered relationships with such portions on the other of said pair of chains in directions extending straight across the widths of such chains; B. an article support member affixed to each said ear portion of each of said link plates of one of said chains, each such member including a channel therein having an open side outboard of the respective chain for receipt in such channel of the outer periphery of a first end portion of an elongate article to be conveyed by said conveyor and each such channel having a width slightly larger than said outer periphery of said article; C. an article-clamping member associated with each said support member and each affixed to one of said ear portions of each of said link plates of the other of said chains, each such clamping member having, on the forward side thereof, for said direction of movement through said looped path of travel, a groove for receipt therein of the rearward wall of a second end portion of the elongate article supported by the respectively associated support member, such second end portion of the elongate article adjoining said first end portion thereof and each said clamping member having on the rearward side thereof, for said direction of movement through said looped path of travel, a leaf spring means for contacting the forward wall of the second end portion of a similar one of said articles disposed in said channel of the support member immediately following each preceding support member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A conveyor in accordance with claim 1 and in which each of said elongate articles comprises a bundle of fiber optics.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A conveyor in accordance with claim 2 and in which the second end portions of said fiber optic bundles are each provided with a sleeve having a flange defining the meeting line of said first and second end portions of the respective bundle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
A conveyor in accordance with claim 3 and further including a device in said looped path of travel of the conveyor for assuring seating of said flange of said sleeve on each said bundle against the face of said support member which faces said groove in the respectively associated one of said clamping members and in which each respective bundle is clamped.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A conveyor in accordance with claim 1 and in which said first end portions of said elongate articles are manually inserted in said channels in said support members for conveyance of the articles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A conveyor in accordance with claim 2 and in which said first end portions of said elongate articles are manually inserted in said channels in said support members for conveyance of the articles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A conveyor in accordance with claim 3 and in which said first end portions of said elongate articles are manually inserted in said channels in said support members for conveyance of the articles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A conveyor in accordance with claim 4 and in which said first end portions of said elongate articles are manually inserted in said channels in said support members for conveyance of the articles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A conveyor in accordance with claim 1 and in which said looped path of travel extends in a horizontal plane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A conveyor in accordance with claim 2 and in which said looped path of travel extends in a horizontal plane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3352405A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-09 | 1975-02-08 | 1975-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-09 | 1979-02-08 | 1979-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-09 | 1983-02-08 | 1983-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |