Work transfer system

Claim 2

A work transfer system comprising: a first endless series of work holder means spaced apart a distance M; a second endless series of work holder means spaced apart a distance L which is a whole multiple of distance M; guide means for guiding said first and second series of work holder means through separate endless orbital paths at substantially the same linear velocity; transfer means movable with both said first and said second series of work holder means throughout at least portions of their respective paths for engaging and removing workpieces in said second series of work holder means while maintaining their spacing L and transferring them to the first series of work holder means; said first series of work holder means being of a total length such that with each succeeding orbit of said first series of work holder means workpieces are transferred to different ones of said first series of work holder means.

Claim 3

The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide means guide said first and said second series of work holder means through orbits which lie in parallel planes.

Claim 4

A work system comprising: a first endless sEries of work holder means spaced apart a distance M; a second endless series of work holder means spaced apart a distance L which is a whole multiple of distance M; guide means for guiding said first and second series of work holder means through separate endless orbital paths at substantially the same linear velocity; transfer means movable with both said first and said second series of work holder means throughout at least portions of their respective paths for engaging and removing workpieces in said second series of work holder means while maintaining their spacing L and transferring them to the first series of work holder means; said first series of work holder means being of a total length such that with each succeeding orbit of said first series of work holder means workpieces are transferred to different ones of said first series of work holder means; said guide means guiding said first and said second series of work holder means through orbits which overlap throughout at least a portion of the orbits thereof.

Claim 5

A work system comprising: a first endless sEries of work holder means spaced apart a distance M; a second endless series of work holder means spaced apart a distance L which is a whole multiple of distance M; guide means for guiding said first and second series of work holder means through separate endless orbital paths at substantially the same linear velocity; transfer means movable with both said first and said second series of work holder means throughout at least portions of their respective paths for engaging and removing workpieces in said second series of work holder means while maintaining their spacing L and transferring them to the first series of work holder means; said first series of work holder means being of a total length such that with each succeeding orbit of said first series of work holder means workpieces are transferred to different ones of said first series of work holder means; said guide means guiding said first and said second series of work holder means through orbits which overlap throughout at least a portion of the orbits thereof.

Claim 6

The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide means include a rotatable turret means about a portion of which both said first and said second series of work holder means are guided during movement through their respective orbits.

Claim 7

The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide means guides said first and said second series of work holder means through orbits which lie in the same plane.

Claim 8

The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said guide means guides each of said series of work holder means through orbits which throughout at least a portion constitute a part of an imaginary circle.

Claim 9

The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said work holder means comprises an endless flexible member provided with work holders in the form of resilient clip members.

Claim 10

A workpiece handling system comprising: a first endless flexible member having workpiece holding means carried thereon at spaced distances M; a second endless flexible member having workpiece holding means carried thereon at spaced distances L which is a whole multiple of M; guide means for guiding said members through separate orbits, said guide means including a turret about which both said first and said second endless flexible members are trained; means for guiding said members on said turret so that the workpiece holding means on said second member are sequentially aligned with those on said first member as said members travel about said turret; means associated with said turret for moving workpieces from said second member to said first member when said holding means are aligned; and, said first member having a number of holding means thereon chosen so that with each complete revolution of said first endless flexible member, different ones of said holding means on said first endless flexible member are brought into alignment with the holding means on said second member.

Claim 11

A workpiece handling system comprising: a first endless flexible member having workpiece holding means carried thereon at spaced distances M; a second endless flexible member having workpiece holding means carried thereon at spaced distances L which is a whole multiple of M; guide means for guiding said members through separate orbits, said guide means including a turret about which both said first and said second endless flexible members are trained; means for guiding said members on said turret so that the workpiece holding means on said second member are sequentially aligned with those on said first member as said members travel about said turret; means associated with said turret for moving workpieces from said second member to said first member when said holding means are aligned; and, said first member having a number of holding means thereon chosen so that with each complete revolution of said first endless flexible member, different ones of said holding means on said first endless flexible member are brought into alignment with the holding means on said second member.

Claim 12

The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for moving said workpieces from said first to said second member comprise rams carried by said turret and rotatable therewith.

Claim 13

The invention ad defined in claim 8 wherein said workpiece holding means comprise resilient clip members.

Claim 14

The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said first and sand second endless flexible members are constrained by said guide means to travel in orbits lying in parallel planes.

Claim 15

A work transfer system comprising: two endless flexible belt members; means for guiding the members through separate orbits which overlap throughout at least a portion of their extent; work holders carried on both of said belt members; the holders on the first belt member being spaced a distance L and the holders on the second belt member being spaced a distance M, L being a whole multiple of M; and, first means movable with said first and second belt members throughout said overlapping portion of their orbIts for transferring workpieces from the holders on the first belt member to the holders on the second belt member during the time the holders are passing through the overlapping portions of the orbits.

Claim 16

A work transfer system comprising: two endless flexible belt members; means for guiding the members through separate orbits which overlap throughout at least a portion of their extent; work holders carried on both of said belt members; the holders on the first belt member being spaced a distance L and the holders on the second belt member being spaced a distance M, L being a whole multiple of M; and, first means movable with said first and second belt members throughout said overlapping portion of their orbIts for transferring workpieces from the holders on the first belt member to the holders on the second belt member during the time the holders are passing through the overlapping portions of the orbits.

Claim 17

The system as defined in claim 12 wherein the holders are resilient clip members extending laterally from said belt members.

Claim 18

The system as defined in claim 12 wherein said belt members are each trained about a common turret.

Claim 19

The system as defined in claim 12 including a third endless flexible belt member and means for guiding said third endless flexible belt member through an orbit which overlaps at least a portion of the orbit of said second endless flexible belt member.

Claim 20

The system as described in claim 15 wherein said first means for transferring workpieces is operable to transfer workpiece from said second endless flexible belt member to said third flexible belt member.

Claim 21

The system as described in claim 15 including second means for transferring workpieces from said second endless flexible belt member to said third endless flexible belt member.