US3708051A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control mechanism for advancing and locating pallets
Assignee: Standard Tool & Manufacturing Co
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Filing: 1971-03-26
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Granted: 1973-01-02
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Expires: 1991-03-26
Abstract
Abstract Carriers are mounted on vertical rails having a wear plate on the bottom which rests upon wear plates on a continuous chain which drives the carriers from one machine station to another where one or a group of carriers may be retained stationary as the chain continues to advance. A reciprocal control mechanism engages the wear plate of a carrier and advances it to a station where the pallet carried thereby is accurately oriented and clamped during a machining operation. The clamped pallet prevents the carrier advancement and permits the reciprocal control mechanism to be released therefrom. An escapement mechanism permits one carrier at a time to be advanced to the reciprocal control mechanism which advances the carrier or carriers to the next adjacent station or stations.
Inventors
- 👤 A Dato
- 👤 Z Zilahy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:44
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23Q; B23Q7/00; B23Q7/14; B23Q7/1426; B61; B61B; B61B10/00; B61B10/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
In a control mechanism for a pallet advancing machine, a base supporting structure, a continuously driven horizontal chain on said structure having wear plates thereon, means for driving said chain, a plurality of nonsynchronous driven carriers supported on said structure having a wear plate in engagement with the wear plates on the chain by which the carriers are advanced in different spaced relation, a reciprocal shuttle bar having means thereon for engaging the wear plate of a carrier, and drive means for reciprocating said shuttle bar for advancing the carrier wear plate and the carrier into a machine station independently of the wear plates on the chain which continued to advance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a control mechanism for a pallet advancing machine, a base supporting structure, a continuously driven horizontal chain on said structure having wear plates thereon, means for driving said chain, a plurality of nonsynchronous driven carriers supported on said structure having a wear plate in engagement with the wear plates on the chain by which the carriers are advanced in different spaced relation, a reciprocal shuttle bar having means thereon for engaging the wear plate of a carrier, and drive means for reciprocating said shuttle bar for advancing the carrier wear plate and the carrier into a machine station independently of the wear plates on the chain which continued to advance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
In a control mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein means is provided for stopping and retaining a carrier ahead of a station in position to have the wear plate thereof engaged by the engaging means of the shuttle bar.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
In a control mechanism as recited in claim 2, wherein the means on the shuttle bar for engaging the wear plate of a carrier is a pair of spaced pivoted links one of which engages the rear edge of the carrier wear plate the other of which engages the forward edge thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
In a control mechanism as recited in claim 3, wherein means are provided for lowering said other pivoted link to permit it to be returned beneath said wear plate by said shuttle bar.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a control mechanism as recited in claim 4, wherein said lowering means embodies a movable bar, and means for moving said bar from raised position for releasing said other pivoted link.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
In a control mechanism as recited in claim 5, wherein the movable bar has a tiltable support on which it is retained on ledge means by spring pressed pins through slots therein in position to be pulled outwardly from the ledge means and moved downwardly to render it ineffective in all positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
In a control mechanism as recited in claim 2, wherein the means for stopping and retaining a carrier ahead of a station is an escapement mechanism having a walking beam mounted on a hinge on a pivot on which the beam rocks so that it can be moved out of carrier engaging position rendering the escapement mechanism ineffective.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
In a control mechanism as recited in claim 7, wherein bumper means on the carriers space them apart when in engagement to permit the walking beam to extend in the space therebetween to retain the engaged carriers stationary as the formost carrier is released.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
In a control mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein an orienting and clamping mechanism is provided at the machine station for orienting and clamping a pallet above the carrier at the station when advanced thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
In a control mechanism as recited in claim 9, wherein the pallet has a notch at one side edge, pins on the carrier extending through the pallet so arranged as to permit the shifting of the pallet longitudinally and laterally relative to the horizontal support on the carrier when being oriented and clamped at the station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
In a control mechanism as recited in claim 10, wherein the clamping of the pallet and the engagement by pins therewith retains the carrier from being advanced by the chain drive so that the shuttle bar can be released from the wear plate thereof and returned to engage the wear plate of a carrier next to be advanced.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
In a control mechanism as recited in claim 9, wherein a cam actuates the clamping mechanism to clamped and released positions each one-half turn thereof, a drive for said cam, and a half revolution clutch in the drive for rotating the cam through 180* each time the clutch is actuated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
In a control mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein said reciprocal shuttle bar has a pivoted lever pivoted thereto, a connecting rod pivoted to said pivoted lever, a disc for reciprocating said connecting rod, and means for driving said disc In rotation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
110 words
In a control mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein means are provided on the shuttle bar for engaging the wear plate of a carrier embodying a pair of spaced pivoted links one of which engages the rear edge of the carrier wear plate the other of which engages the forward edge thereof, a bar engageable with said other pivoted link to move it to raised and lowered positions, a second cam means mounted on said drive disc, and mechanism actuated by said second cam means for raising and lowering said bar and said other pivoted link to and from engagement with the forward end of said carrier wear plate.
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) | 1976-01-02 | 1976-07-03 | 1977-01-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-02 | 1980-07-03 | 1981-01-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-02 | 1984-07-03 | 1985-01-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |