US3601243A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transfer mechanism
Assignee: Madison Management Group Inc
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Filing: 1969-05-29
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Granted: 1971-08-24
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Expires: 1989-05-29
Abstract
Abstract The present kiln loader transfer mechanism has first and second parallel rows of pickup spindles for respectively picking up ware pieces and ware support discs arranged in parallel rows extending lengthwise of an inlet conveyor. The transfer mechanism is turned horizontally to deposit the ware pieces and ware support discs in rows on a kiln conveyor at 60* to the latter. While being turned, the transfer mechanism reduces the spacing between the articles in each row and reduces the spacing between the two rows by a predetermined adjustable amount which insures that the discs will be aligned with the ware pieces lengthwise of the kiln conveyor.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley S Gurgacz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:56
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/74; B65G47/90; B65G47/91; B65G47/918
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
368 words
Apparatus for simultaneously transferring two groups of articles from a first conveyor to a second conveyor running substantially parallel to the first conveyor comprising: a transfer mechanism having two rows of evenly spaced article pickup members, means for moving said transfer mechanism between a first position overlying said first conveyor in which each of the rows of pickup members extends longitudinally of the first conveyor and a second position overlying said second conveyor in which each of the rows of pickup members extends at a predetermined acute angle to the length of the second conveyor, means in said transfer mechanism operative when the transfer mechanism is moved from said first position to said second position for reducing the spacing between the pickup members in each row, and means on said transfer mechanism operative when the transfer mechanism is moved from said first position to said second position for reducing the spacing between the Two rows of pickup members so as to align each of the pickup members in one of the rows with a corresponding one of the pickup members in the other of the rows in a direction lengthwise of the second conveyor, said transfer mechanism having a longitudinally contractable and expandable frame carrying the two rows of pickup members and which contracts lengthwise to reduce the spacing between the pickup members in each of the rows when the transfer mechanism is moved from said first position to said second position, said longitudinally contractable and expandable frame being a lazy tong frame which maintains the pickup members in each of the rows evenly spaced apart while reducing the spacing between them, a cross slide carrying one of the rows of pickup members and slidably mounted on the lazy tong frame for movement perpendicular to the latter''s length, an air cylinder-and-piston unit coupled to said cross slide for moving the latter toward the other of the rows of pickup members on the lazy tong frame during movement of the transfer mechanism from said first position to said second position, and adjustable means coacting between said cross slide and said lazy tong frame for selectively limiting the movement of the cross slide toward the other row of pickup members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
368 words
Apparatus for simultaneously transferring two groups of articles from a first conveyor to a second conveyor running substantially parallel to the first conveyor comprising: a transfer mechanism having two rows of evenly spaced article pickup members, means for moving said transfer mechanism between a first position overlying said first conveyor in which each of the rows of pickup members extends longitudinally of the first conveyor and a second position overlying said second conveyor in which each of the rows of pickup members extends at a predetermined acute angle to the length of the second conveyor, means in said transfer mechanism operative when the transfer mechanism is moved from said first position to said second position for reducing the spacing between the pickup members in each row, and means on said transfer mechanism operative when the transfer mechanism is moved from said first position to said second position for reducing the spacing between the Two rows of pickup members so as to align each of the pickup members in one of the rows with a corresponding one of the pickup members in the other of the rows in a direction lengthwise of the second conveyor, said transfer mechanism having a longitudinally contractable and expandable frame carrying the two rows of pickup members and which contracts lengthwise to reduce the spacing between the pickup members in each of the rows when the transfer mechanism is moved from said first position to said second position, said longitudinally contractable and expandable frame being a lazy tong frame which maintains the pickup members in each of the rows evenly spaced apart while reducing the spacing between them, a cross slide carrying one of the rows of pickup members and slidably mounted on the lazy tong frame for movement perpendicular to the latter''s length, an air cylinder-and-piston unit coupled to said cross slide for moving the latter toward the other of the rows of pickup members on the lazy tong frame during movement of the transfer mechanism from said first position to said second position, and adjustable means coacting between said cross slide and said lazy tong frame for selectively limiting the movement of the cross slide toward the other row of pickup members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
335 words
Apparatus for simultaneously transferring two groups of articles from a first conveyor to a second conveyor running substantially parallel to the first conveyor comprising: a transfer mechanism having two rows of evenly spaced article pickup members, means for moving said transfer mechanism between a first position overlying said first conveyor in which each of the rows of pickup members extends longitudinally of the first conveyor and a second position overlying said second conveyor in which each of the rows of pickup members extends at a predetermined acute angle to the length of the second conveyor, means in said transfer mechanism operative when the transfer mechanism is moved from said first position to said second position for reducing the spacing between the pickup members in each row, and means on said transfer mechanism operative when the transfer mechanism is moved from said first position to said second position for reducing the spacing between the two rows of pickup members so as to align each of the pickup members in one of the rows with a corresponding one of the pickup members in the other of the rows in a direction lengthwise of the second conveyor, said transfer mechanism having a longitudinally contractable and expandable frame carrying the two rows of pickup members and which contracts lengthwise to reduce the spacing between the pickup members in each of the rows when the transfer mechanism is moved from said first position to said second position, said longitudinally contractable and expandable frame comprising a plurality of crosspieces extending perpendicular to its length between its opposite longitudinal sides, a cross slide extending longitudinally of said frame and crossing each of said crosspieces, and further comprising at each crossing between the cross slide and one of said frame crosspieces a coupling which slidably engages both the cross slide and the respective frame crosspiece for sliding movement lengthwise of each, each of said pickup members in said one of the rows being carried by a respective coupling for movement in unison therewith.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
335 words
Apparatus for simultaneously transferring two groups of articles from a first conveyor to a second conveyor running substantially parallel to the first conveyor comprising: a transfer mechanism having two rows of evenly spaced article pickup members, means for moving said transfer mechanism between a first position overlying said first conveyor in which each of the rows of pickup members extends longitudinally of the first conveyor and a second position overlying said second conveyor in which each of the rows of pickup members extends at a predetermined acute angle to the length of the second conveyor, means in said transfer mechanism operative when the transfer mechanism is moved from said first position to said second position for reducing the spacing between the pickup members in each row, and means on said transfer mechanism operative when the transfer mechanism is moved from said first position to said second position for reducing the spacing between the two rows of pickup members so as to align each of the pickup members in one of the rows with a corresponding one of the pickup members in the other of the rows in a direction lengthwise of the second conveyor, said transfer mechanism having a longitudinally contractable and expandable frame carrying the two rows of pickup members and which contracts lengthwise to reduce the spacing between the pickup members in each of the rows when the transfer mechanism is moved from said first position to said second position, said longitudinally contractable and expandable frame comprising a plurality of crosspieces extending perpendicular to its length between its opposite longitudinal sides, a cross slide extending longitudinally of said frame and crossing each of said crosspieces, and further comprising at each crossing between the cross slide and one of said frame crosspieces a coupling which slidably engages both the cross slide and the respective frame crosspiece for sliding movement lengthwise of each, each of said pickup members in said one of the rows being carried by a respective coupling for movement in unison therewith.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said cross slide transversely overlies said frame crosspieces, and said cross slide and each of said frame crosspieces is longitudinally slotted, with a slot in the cross slide crossing a slot in each frame crosspiece, and with each pickup member extending down through a slot in the cross slide and a slot in the frame crosspiece.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-23 | 1975-02-22 | 1975-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-23 | 1979-02-22 | 1979-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-23 | 1983-02-22 | 1983-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |