Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
The method of inserting a plurality of elongate articles into a plurality of holes in a carrier comprising the steps of: introducing the elongate articles onto the carrier; vibrating the carrier to agitate the elongate articles to encourage them to enter the holes in the carrier; inducing a pressure differential between the tops and bottoms of the holes to assist the elongate articles in entering the holes by causing a gas to enter the tops of the holes and draw the articles into the holes, and; periodically reducing the pressure differential to dislodge jammed articles by reducing the flow of fluid into the tops of the holes so that the vibration of the carrier will dislodge the jammed articles.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
119 words
The method of inserting a plurality of elongate articles into a plurality of holes in a carrier comprising the steps of: introducing the elongate articles onto the carrier; vibrating the carrier to agitate the elongate articles to encourage them to enter the holes in the carrier; inducing a pressure differential between the tops and bottoms of the holes to assist the elongate articles in entering the holes by causing a gas to enter the tops of the holes and draw the articles into the holes, and; periodically reducing the pressure differential to dislodge jammed articles by reducing the flow of fluid into the tops of the holes so that the vibration of the carrier will dislodge the jammed articles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the pressure differential is produced by applying a pulsating vacuum to the bottoms of the holes.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of automatically inserting a plurality of elongate articles into a plurality of holes in a carrier, comprising the steps of: placing th carrier in a carrier support; introducing the elongate articles onto the carrier; vibrating the carrier to agitate the elongate articles to assist the elongate articles in entering the holes; applying a vacuum to the bottoms of the holes to assist the elongate articles in entering the holes by drawing a gas into the tops of the holes, and; periodicAlly reducing the vacuum to dislodge any jammed articles by reducing the flow of gas into the tops of the holes so that the vibration of the carrier will dislodge the jammed articles.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of automatically inserting a plurality of elongate articles into a plurality of holes in a carrier, comprising the steps of: placing th carrier in a carrier support; introducing the elongate articles onto the carrier; vibrating the carrier to agitate the elongate articles to assist the elongate articles in entering the holes; applying a vacuum to the bottoms of the holes to assist the elongate articles in entering the holes by drawing a gas into the tops of the holes, and; periodicAlly reducing the vacuum to dislodge any jammed articles by reducing the flow of gas into the tops of the holes so that the vibration of the carrier will dislodge the jammed articles.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
165 words
An apparatus for automatically inserting a plurality of elongate articles into a plurality of holes in a carrier, comprising: carrier support means for supporting the carrier; vibrator means for vibrating the carrier support means to vibrate the carrier and agitate any articles thereon; hopper means adjacent to the carrier support means for storing elongate articles and for introducing elongate articles onto the surface of a carrier in the carrier support means, and; a pulsating-pressure-differential means for establishing a periodically interrupted higher pressure at the tops of the holes in the carrier than at the bottoms of the holes in the carrier, in order to induce gas flow into the tops of the holes during the periods of high pressure differential to assist the elongate articles in entering the holes, while the periods of reduced pressure differential provide automatic dislodging of article jams by reducing the gas flow into the tops of the holes so that the vibration of the carrier will dislodge any article jams.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
165 words
An apparatus for automatically inserting a plurality of elongate articles into a plurality of holes in a carrier, comprising: carrier support means for supporting the carrier; vibrator means for vibrating the carrier support means to vibrate the carrier and agitate any articles thereon; hopper means adjacent to the carrier support means for storing elongate articles and for introducing elongate articles onto the surface of a carrier in the carrier support means, and; a pulsating-pressure-differential means for establishing a periodically interrupted higher pressure at the tops of the holes in the carrier than at the bottoms of the holes in the carrier, in order to induce gas flow into the tops of the holes during the periods of high pressure differential to assist the elongate articles in entering the holes, while the periods of reduced pressure differential provide automatic dislodging of article jams by reducing the gas flow into the tops of the holes so that the vibration of the carrier will dislodge any article jams.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the pressure differential source includes a source of a purge gas for expelling contaminating vapors from vicinity of the articles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the pulsating-pressure-differential means is a pulsating vacuum source.