Mechanical force sensing declutching mechanism

Claim 2

Apparatus for moving a workpiece comprising a base member, means for supporting a workpiece on said base member for movement relative thereto, drive means mounted on said base member, a workpiece moving means operatively connected to said drive means for movement relative to said base member and comprising workpiece pushing means mounted on said moving means and normally extending into a first, workpiece moving position relative to said supporting means and mechanical advantage means tending to maintain said pushing means in said first position until the force exerted against said pushing means by workpiece movement resistance exceeds a predetermined amount, and cam means acting between said pushing means and said mechanical means and formed so as to allow substantially instantaneous movement of said pushing means from said first position to a second position in which it is withdrawn from contact with a workpiece on said support means when the resistance force exceeds the predetermined amount.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 including means for adjusting the force which said mechanical advantage means exerts on said pushing means to maintain said pushing means in said first position.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 including means for causing said pushing means to be moved from said first position to a second position in which it is withdrawn from workpiece pushing relationship relative to said supporting means.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 including means for locking said pushing means in said second position when moved thereto by said movement causing means.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said drive means actuates said moving means in a reciprocal cycle having a first, workpiece movement, direction of motion and a second direction of motion by means of which said moving means returns to the starting position of the cycle.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 including means for withdrawing said pushing means from said first position, at the conclusion of the motion of said moving means in said first direction, to a second position in which it is unable to contact a workpiece on said supporting means.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6, including means for returning said pushing means to said first position at the conclusion of the motion of said moving means in said second direction.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 including means for positively retaining said pushing means in said second position during the period when said moving means is being driven in said second direction.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 5 including means for withdrawing said pushing means from said first position to a second position in which it is unable to contact a workpiece on said supporting means when movement of such a workpiece becomes obstructed.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 6 including means for positively retaining said pushing means in said second position, when such a workpiece becomes obstructed, throughout the remainder of the period in which said moving means is driven in said first direction.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 10 including means for returning said pushing means to said first position when said moving means is returned to the starting position of the cycle.

Claim 13

Apparatus for conveying a workpiece including a base member, means for supporting a workpiece in a workpiece movement path relative to said base member, conveyor means mounted on said base member and comprising reciprocally movable carrier means, means for moving said carrier means, PUSHER means mounted on said carrier means for movement from a first position in which it extends into the workpiece movement path to a second position in which it is withdrawn from the workpiece movement path, said pusher means having a cam follower thereon, means for biasing said pusher means toward said first position, cam means reciprocally mounted on said carrier means, lever means pivotally mounted on said carrier means and acting upon said cam means to sense and control the reciprocal movement thereof, and means acting upon said lever means for biasing said cam means into contact with said cam follower, thereby maintaining said pusher means in said first position until a reaction force is exerted on said pusher means which is substantially greater than the force exerted by said biasing means.

Claim 14

Apparatus for conveying a workpiece including a base member, means for supporting a workpiece in a workpiece movement path relative to said base member, conveyor means mounted on said base member and comprising reciprocally movable carrier means, means for moving said carrier means, PUSHER means mounted on said carrier means for movement from a first position in which it extends into the workpiece movement path to a second position in which it is withdrawn from the workpiece movement path, said pusher means having a cam follower thereon, means for biasing said pusher means toward said first position, cam means reciprocally mounted on said carrier means, lever means pivotally mounted on said carrier means and acting upon said cam means to sense and control the reciprocal movement thereof, and means acting upon said lever means for biasing said cam means into contact with said cam follower, thereby maintaining said pusher means in said first position until a reaction force is exerted on said pusher means which is substantially greater than the force exerted by said biasing means.

Claim 15

Apparatus for moving a workpiece comprising a base member, means for supporting a workpiece on said base member for movement relative thereto, drive means mounted on said base member, a workpiece moving means operatively connected to said drive means for movement relative to said base member and comprising workpiece pushing means mounted on said moving means and normally extending into a first, workpiece moving position relative to said supporting means, mechanical advantage means tending to maintain said pushing means in said first position until the force exerted against said pushing means by workpiece movement resistance exceeds a predetermined amount, cam means tending to maintain said pushing means in said first position, and means for biasing said cam means into contact with said pushing means.

Claim 16

Apparatus for moving a workpiece comprising a base member, means for supporting a workpiece on said base member for movement relative thereto, drive means mounted on said base member, a workpiece moving means operatively connected to said drive means for movement relative to said base member and comprising workpiece pushing means mounted on said moving means and normally extending into a first, workpiece moving position relative to said supporting means, mechanical advantage means tending to maintain said pushing means in said first position until the force exerted against said pushing means by workpiece movement resistance exceeds a predetermined amount, cam means tending to maintain said pushing means in said first position, and means for biasing said cam means into contact with said pushing means.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said biasing means include a force advantage lever means acting upon said cam means and a spring acting against said force advantage lever means.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 13 including cam follower means on said pushing means acting against said cam means.

Claim 19

Apparatus for moving a workpiece comprising a base member, means for supporting a workpiece on said base member for movement relative thereto, drive means, a workpiece moving means operatively connected to said drive means for movement relative to said base member and comprising workpiece pushing means mounted on said moving means and normally extending into a first, workpiece moving position relative to said supporting means, and mechanical advantage force multiplication means tending to maintain said pushing means in said first position until the force exerted against said pushing means by workpiece movement resistance exceeds a predetermined amount including lever means, means biasing said lever means in a first direction, and means for multiplying the force exerted by said lever means on said workpiece moving means.

Claim 20

Apparatus for moving a workpiece comprising a base member, means for supporting a workpiece on said base member for movement relative thereto, drive means, a workpiece moving means operatively connected to said drive means for movement relative to said base member and comprising workpiece pushing means mounted on said moving means and normally extending into a first, workpiece moving position relative to said supporting means, and mechanical advantage force multiplication means tending to maintain said pushing means in said first position until the force exerted against said pushing means by workpiece movement resistance exceeds a predetermined amount including lever means, means biasing said lever means in a first direction, and means for multiplying the force exerted by said lever means on said workpiece moving means.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said force multiplying means further includes means for preventing any movement of said pushing means until the predetermined workpiece movement resistance force reaches said predetermined amount and for allowing said pushing means to move to a second position in which it cannot push a workpiece at the instant that the predetermined workpiece resistance force is exceeded.