US3703954A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conveyor system for wire like articles
Assignee: Artos Engineering Co
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Filing: 1971-03-16
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Granted: 1972-11-28
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Expires: 1991-03-16
Abstract
Abstract An endless chain having alternate pairs of inner and outer side bars moves in an oblong path around spaced sprocket wheels. Pairs of relatively swingable clamping jaws for electrical wire leads or the like are mounted at intervals on the chain and are nested between opposite side bars and associated hinge bushings thereof. Outwardly extending gripping arms of the jaws are spring biased toward each other and are temporarily swung apart into wire receiving and wire releasing positions by actuating fingers which project inward of the oblong path of chain travel and are engaged by cams at the sprocket wheels.
Inventors
- 👤 Ragnar Gudmestad
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 12:41
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G17/00; B65G17/30; B65G17/32; B65G17/326; H; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/28; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A conveyor system for wire like articles comprising a support mounting a driving and a driven sprocket wheel for rotation about spaced parallel axes; an endless chain looped around said sprocket wheels and having a successive links thereof swingably interconnected by pivot joints; a series of clamp assemblies mounted on and spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of said chain each of said clamp assemblies comprising a pair of complementary article gripping jaws rockably seated, respectively, on a successive pair of said hinge joints; motion transmitting means operatively interconnecting said jaws so that they will rock together about said successive hinge joints into clamp opening positions upon torque application to one of said jaws; resilient means biasing said jaws into clamp closing positions; and control means cooperable with said one jaw of each of said clamp assemblies for intermittently applying said clamp opening torque thereto during travel of said chain around said sprocket wheels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
A conveyor system for wire like articles comprising a support mounting a driving and a driven sprocket wheel for rotation about spaced parallel axes; an endless chain looped around said sprocket wheels and having a successive links thereof swingably interconnected by pivot joints; a series of clamp assemblies mounted on and spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of said chain each of said clamp assemblies comprising a pair of complementary article gripping jaws rockably seated, respectively, on a successive pair of said hinge joints; motion transmitting means operatively interconnecting said jaws so that they will rock together about said successive hinge joints into clamp opening positions upon torque application to one of said jaws; resilient means biasing said jaws into clamp closing positions; and control means cooperable with said one jaw of each of said clamp assemblies for intermittently applying said clamp opening torque thereto during travel of said chain around said sprocket wheels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
129 words
A conveyor system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said one jaw of each of said clamp assemblies has a torque transmitting finger element extending transversely of said chain, and wherein said control means comprise a cam element mounted on said support for selective adjustment into and out of an actuating position in cooperative relation to said torque transmitting finger elements of said clamp assemblies, cooperative engagement of said finger elements with said cam element in its actuating position upon Movement of said chain around said sprocket wheels causing said jaw elements to swing into clamp opening position, and adjustment of said cam element of said actuating position causing said jaw elements to swing into clamp closing position independently of movement of said chain around said sprocket wheels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A conveyor system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said cam element is mounted for rotary back and forth adjustment about the axis of one of said sprocket wheels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
108 words
As an article of manufacture, a chain link and clamp assembly comprising a pair of parallel side bars in spaced lateral alignment with each other; a pair of parallel hinge bushings connecting one of said side bars at its opposite ends with corresponding opposite ends of the other side bar; a pair of complementary article gripping jaws rockably seated, respectively, on said hinge bushings; motion transmitting means swingably interconnecting said jaws in the space between said bushings; resilient means operatively associated with said jaws for biasing then into clamp closing positions; and a torque transmitting finger element extending from one of said jaws transversely of its seating bushing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
108 words
As an article of manufacture, a chain link and clamp assembly comprising a pair of parallel side bars in spaced lateral alignment with each other; a pair of parallel hinge bushings connecting one of said side bars at its opposite ends with corresponding opposite ends of the other side bar; a pair of complementary article gripping jaws rockably seated, respectively, on said hinge bushings; motion transmitting means swingably interconnecting said jaws in the space between said bushings; resilient means operatively associated with said jaws for biasing then into clamp closing positions; and a torque transmitting finger element extending from one of said jaws transversely of its seating bushing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A chain link and clamp assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said motion transmitting means comprise a pin element embraced by opposite arcuately recessed portions, respectively, of said article gripping jaws.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A chain link and clamp assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein one of said side bars has an aperture intermediate its ends for axial insertion of said pin element between and for axial withdrawal thereof from said arcuately recessed jaw portions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A chain link and clamp assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said resilient means comprise a rod element extending loosely through said jaws generally lengthwise of the link and coil springs surrounding opposite end portions of said rod and reacting, respectively, between the latter and said jaws.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
A chain link and clamp assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein article gripping arms of said jaws extend outward from one side of the space between said side bars, and wherein said finger element extends outward from the opposite side of said space and is of narrower width than the lateral spacing of said side bars.
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) | 1975-11-28 | 1976-05-29 | 1976-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-28 | 1980-05-29 | 1980-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-28 | 1984-05-29 | 1984-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |