US3732968A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for orienting material
Assignee: Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co
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Filing: 1971-08-11
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Granted: 1973-05-15
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Expires: 1991-08-11
Abstract
Abstract A machine for properly aligning unoriented pieces of defective tread stock for movement through a tread slitter where the different tread and sidewall rubber compounds are separated and returned to the extruder for reuse. The machine includes a pair of pointed awls which act as pivots around which the piece of tread stock is rotated into properly aligned relation for passage through the tread slitter.
Inventors
- 👤 J Fedor
- 👤 C Christie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:54
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/22; B65G47/24; B65G47/244; B65G2203/00; B65G2203/04; B65G2203/042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
An apparatus for aligning a piece of material, comprising: a. a conveyor for supporting a piece of material as it moves through the apparatus; b. means for clamping the piece of material in stationary relation on the conveyor after it moves a predeterMined distance along the conveyor; c. a pair of sensors, separately movable along parallel axes angularly disposed to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor, for sensing a distinguishable, physical characteristic of the piece of material; d. an awl movable, in unison, with each of the sensors, the awls being equally spaced from the sensors; e. means for driving the awls into plunging, piercing relation with the piece of material when the sensors sense the physical characteristic of the piece of material; f. means for unclamping the piece of material from the conveyor when the awls pierce the piece; g. means for individually moving the awls to positions where the awls are in aligned, parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor, when the piece of material is unclamped from the conveyor and after the awls pierce the piece of material; and h. means for retracting the awls from the piece of material when the awls are in said position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
202 words
An apparatus for aligning a piece of material, comprising: a. a conveyor for supporting a piece of material as it moves through the apparatus; b. means for clamping the piece of material in stationary relation on the conveyor after it moves a predeterMined distance along the conveyor; c. a pair of sensors, separately movable along parallel axes angularly disposed to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor, for sensing a distinguishable, physical characteristic of the piece of material; d. an awl movable, in unison, with each of the sensors, the awls being equally spaced from the sensors; e. means for driving the awls into plunging, piercing relation with the piece of material when the sensors sense the physical characteristic of the piece of material; f. means for unclamping the piece of material from the conveyor when the awls pierce the piece; g. means for individually moving the awls to positions where the awls are in aligned, parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor, when the piece of material is unclamped from the conveyor and after the awls pierce the piece of material; and h. means for retracting the awls from the piece of material when the awls are in said position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clamping and unclamping means includes at least one clamp angularly disposed to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor, and means for actuating the clamp into and out of engagement with the piece of material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 2, which includes means for stopping operation of the conveyor prior to actuating the clamp.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the sensors move along axes parallel to the angular disposition of the clamp.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 4, which includes means for operating the conveyor as the awls move to said positions to help rotate the piece of material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the sensors and awls move along parallel axes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 6, which includes means for varying the spacing between the awls and the sensors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each sensor includes a finger for gliding relation over the piece of material, and means for actuating movement of the awls when the fingers contact the physical characteristic which the fingers are set to sense.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the awls move in opposing directions towards said positions and means are provided for determining the direction of movement of said awls.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the clamping and unclamping means includes a set of clamps extending transversely over the conveyor in parallel relation.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for aligning an elongated piece of material having a physical characteristic, comprising: a. means for sensing the physical characteristic of the piece; b. means coacting with the sensing means for engaging the piece when the physical characteristic is sensed and at a pair of pivot points which are equally spaced from the longitudinal axis of the piece; c. means coacting with the piece engaging means when the piece is engaged, for moving the pivot points and rotating the engaged piece to a properly oriented position for passage from the apparatus; and d. means coacting with the moving and rotating means for disengaging the piece engaging means from the piece of material when the piece is in said position.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for aligning an elongated piece of material having a physical characteristic, comprising: a. means for sensing the physical characteristic of the piece; b. means coacting with the sensing means for engaging the piece when the physical characteristic is sensed and at a pair of pivot points which are equally spaced from the longitudinal axis of the piece; c. means coacting with the piece engaging means when the piece is engaged, for moving the pivot points and rotating the engaged piece to a properly oriented position for passage from the apparatus; and d. means coacting with the moving and rotating means for disengaging the piece engaging means from the piece of material when the piece is in said position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 11, which includes: e. means for holding the piece in a stopped position after the piece moves a predetermined distance through the apparatus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the sensing means includes a pair of sensors movable in parallel relation transversely across a piece held in a stopped position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for engaging the piece includes a pointed awl movable, in unison, with each of the pair of sensors, and means for plunging the awl into piecing relation with the piece after the sensors locate the physical characteristic.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 14, which includes a conveyor for supporting the piece as it moves through the apparatus.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for rotating the engaged piece includes means for moving tHe awls independently of each other to positions where the awls are in coaxial relation with the conveyor.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of moving an elongated piece of material from an undesirable position to a desirable position for subsequent movement along a predetermined axis, comprising the steps of: a. sensing a physical characteristic of the piece of material when the piece is in the undesirable position; b. grabbing the piece of material, in said undesirable position, at two points which are equally spaced from the longitudinal axis of the piece of material; c. exerting a force upon the piece of material through the pivot points to rotate the piece to the desired position; and d. disengaging the piece of material when the piece is in the desired position, such that the piece is free to move along the predetermined axis.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of moving an elongated piece of material from an undesirable position to a desirable position for subsequent movement along a predetermined axis, comprising the steps of: a. sensing a physical characteristic of the piece of material when the piece is in the undesirable position; b. grabbing the piece of material, in said undesirable position, at two points which are equally spaced from the longitudinal axis of the piece of material; c. exerting a force upon the piece of material through the pivot points to rotate the piece to the desired position; and d. disengaging the piece of material when the piece is in the desired position, such that the piece is free to move along the predetermined axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3432023A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-14 | 1976-11-13 | 1977-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-14 | 1980-11-13 | 1981-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-14 | 1984-11-13 | 1985-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |