Machine for the helical movement of cylindrical objects

Claim 2

In a machine for the helical movement of cylindrical objects arranged longitudinally in series having elongated guiding means for said objects, a set of at least three skewly positioned driven rollers uniformly spaced around the axis of said objects to impart by simultaneous contact of their peripheries with the cylindrical surface of said objects both rotational and translational motion to said objects, the improvement which comprises: a. a frame comprising two spaced, parallel plates disposed with said guiding means extending normally therethrough; b. a timing sprocket for each of said rollers disposed in the space between said two plates and supported by said two plates and uniformly spaced around the axis of said guiding means with its axis parallel to said axis; c. a bracket with a bearing for each of said rollers supported on the outside of one of said two plates and uniformly spaced around said axis of said guiding means; d. a flexible shaft connected to each said sprocket extending through said two plates and a said bearing and connected at one end to one of said rollers; and e. means connecting a drive source to each said sprocket to rotate said sprocket and its associated flexible shaft and roller at the same speed and in the same direction.

Claim 3

The improvement of the machine of claim 1 wherein each said bracket is adjustably positioned a predetermined distance from said guiding means.

Claim 4

In a machine for the helical movement of cylindrical objects arranged longitudinally in series having elongated guiding means for said objects, at least two sets of three skewly positioned driven rollers uniformly spaced around the axis of said objects to impart by simultaneous contact of the peripheries of said threE rollers of each of said sets with the cylindrical surface of said objects both rotational and translational motion to said objects, the improvement which comprises: a. a frame for each of said sets of said three rollers comprising two spaced, parallel plates disposed with said guiding means extending normally therethrough, each said frame being spaced from the next said frame; b. three timing sprockets for said three rollers of one of said sets disposed in the space between said two plates and supported by said two plates of each said frame and uniformly spaced around the axis of said guiding means with their axes parallel to said axis; c. three brackets each with a bearing for each of said three rollers of one of said sets supported on the outside of one of said two plates of each said frame and uniformly spaced around said axis of said guiding means; d. three flexible shafts each connected to one of said three sprockets for said three rollers of each of said sets extending through said two plates of a said frame and a said bearing and connected at one end to one of said three rollers; and e. means connecting a drive source to each said three sprockets supported by said two plates of each said frame to rotate said three sprockets and their associated flexible shafts and rollers at the same speed and in the same direction.

Claim 5

In a machine for the helical movement of cylindrical objects arranged longitudinally in series having elongated guiding means for said objects, at least two sets of three skewly positioned driven rollers uniformly spaced around the axis of said objects to impart by simultaneous contact of the peripheries of said threE rollers of each of said sets with the cylindrical surface of said objects both rotational and translational motion to said objects, the improvement which comprises: a. a frame for each of said sets of said three rollers comprising two spaced, parallel plates disposed with said guiding means extending normally therethrough, each said frame being spaced from the next said frame; b. three timing sprockets for said three rollers of one of said sets disposed in the space between said two plates and supported by said two plates of each said frame and uniformly spaced around the axis of said guiding means with their axes parallel to said axis; c. three brackets each with a bearing for each of said three rollers of one of said sets supported on the outside of one of said two plates of each said frame and uniformly spaced around said axis of said guiding means; d. three flexible shafts each connected to one of said three sprockets for said three rollers of each of said sets extending through said two plates of a said frame and a said bearing and connected at one end to one of said three rollers; and e. means connecting a drive source to each said three sprockets supported by said two plates of each said frame to rotate said three sprockets and their associated flexible shafts and rollers at the same speed and in the same direction.

Claim 6

The improvement of the machine of claim 3 wherein one said frame is positioned with its set of three rollers facing the set of three rollers of the next said frame.

Claim 7

The improvement of the machine of claim 3 wherein each said frame is adjustably mounted on a rectilinear track so that each said frame may be spaced from the next said frame as desired.

Claim 8

The improvement of the machine of claim 5 wherein one said frame is positioned with its set of three rollers facing the set of three rollers of the next said frame.

Claim 9

The improvement of the machine of claim 3 wherein each of said three brackets on each said frame is adjustably positioned a predetermined distance from said guiding means extending through said frame.

Claim 10

In a machine in which a driven roller is supported by a bracket with a bearing on one outer side of a frame comprising two spaced, parallel plates and said roller is positioned with its axis askew to said outer side of said frame and with its periphery close to said outer side, the improvement which comprises: a. a timing sprocket for said roller disposed in the space between said two plates and supported by said two plates; b. a first sleeve disposed concentrically within said sprocket, the bore in said first sleeve being substantially conical and having its wider opening adjacent the first-mentioned outer side of said frame; c. a second sleeve disposed concentrically within said bearing, the bore in said second sleeve being substantially conical and having its wider opening adjacent said first-mentioned outer side of said frame; d. a flexible shaft connected at one end to said roller and extending through said second sleeve and said first sleeve to fastening means attached at the smaller opening of said first sleeve; and e. means connecting a drive source to said sprocket to rotate said sprocket and its associated first sleeve, flexible shaft, second sleeve and roller.

Claim 11

In a machine in which a driven roller is supported by a bracket with a bearing on one outer side of a frame comprising two spaced, parallel plates and said roller is positioned with its axis askew to said outer side of said frame and with its periphery close to said outer side, the improvement which comprises: a. a timing sprocket for said roller disposed in the space between said two plates and supported by said two plates; b. a first sleeve disposed concentrically within said sprocket, the bore in said first sleeve being substantially conical and having its wider opening adjacent the first-mentioned outer side of said frame; c. a second sleeve disposed concentrically within said bearing, the bore in said second sleeve being substantially conical and having its wider opening adjacent said first-mentioned outer side of said frame; d. a flexible shaft connected at one end to said roller and extending through said second sleeve and said first sleeve to fastening means attached at the smaller opening of said first sleeve; and e. means connecting a drive source to said sprocket to rotate said sprocket and its associated first sleeve, flexible shaft, second sleeve and roller.

Claim 12

The improvement of the machine of claim 8 wherein said bracket is adjustably positioned on said frame.