US3742575A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Latch installation machine
Assignee: Questor Corp
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Filing: 1970-06-17
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Granted: 1973-07-03
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Expires: 1990-06-17
Abstract
Abstract A pair of adjacent, rotating turrets are indexed to stop at various assembly stations, spaced circumferentially about each turret. Four ring holders are mounted on one turret for holding split rings. Four iparts nests are mounted on the other turret for holding lock tabs and latches wich are to be inserted into the rings. A ring loader is positioned at one work station adjacent the first turret for loading a piston ring onto a ring holder. Located at work stations adjacent the second turret are a lock tab loader and a latch loader for loading lock tabs and a latch, respectively, into a parts nest. The two turrets then share a common work station at which a ring holder and a parts nest are in alignment. At this point, a lifter pushes the lock tabs and latch out of the parts nest and into engagement with the ring whereby assembly of the ring and latch is facilitated. A ring unloader is located at yet another work station adjacent the first turret for unloading the completed rings. A clearing station is located at a work station adjacent the second turret for clearing the parts nest of any lock tabs and/or latch which might be left in the parts nest as a result of a defective assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 A Hardick
- 👤 A Martin
- 👤 D House
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 02:00
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16J; F16J9/00; F16J9/10; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/51; Y10T29/5136; Y10T29/5137; Y10T29/5142; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53313; Y10T29/53365; Y10T29/53374; Y10T29/53383; Y10T29/53391
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
An apparatus for installing a latch across the ends of a split ring, said apparatus comprising: a first rotatable turret and a second rotatable turret positioned adjacent one another; means mounted on said first turret for holding a ring; means mounted on said second turret for holding a latch; means for rotating said turret; means indexing the rotation of said turret whereby said ring holding means and said latch holding means are stopped at various work stations spaced circumferencially about each of said turrets; means positioned at a first work station, adjacent said first turret for loading a ring onto said ring holding means when said ring holding means is aligned therewith; means positioned at a second work station, adjacent said second turret, for loading a latch onto said latch holding means when said latch holding means is aligned therewith; said first and second turrets sharing a third and common work station at which said ring holding means and said latch holding means come into alignment with one another; means at said third work station for forcing a latch out of said latch holding means into engagement with said ring on said ring holding means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
195 words
An apparatus for installing a latch across the ends of a split ring, said apparatus comprising: a first rotatable turret and a second rotatable turret positioned adjacent one another; means mounted on said first turret for holding a ring; means mounted on said second turret for holding a latch; means for rotating said turret; means indexing the rotation of said turret whereby said ring holding means and said latch holding means are stopped at various work stations spaced circumferencially about each of said turrets; means positioned at a first work station, adjacent said first turret for loading a ring onto said ring holding means when said ring holding means is aligned therewith; means positioned at a second work station, adjacent said second turret, for loading a latch onto said latch holding means when said latch holding means is aligned therewith; said first and second turrets sharing a third and common work station at which said ring holding means and said latch holding means come into alignment with one another; means at said third work station for forcing a latch out of said latch holding means into engagement with said ring on said ring holding means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which comprises: means at a fourth work station adjacent said second turret for loading lock tabs onto said latch holding means; said fourth work station being positioned ahead of said second work station in the direction of rotation of said second turret whereby said lock tabs are loaded onto said latch holding means ahead of said latch; said forcing means at said third work station acting to push said lock tabs into engagement with said ring, behind said latch, whereby said latch is locked in place in said ring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 2 which comprises: means at a fifth work station, adjacent said first turret, for unloading completely assembled rings from said first turret; said fifth work station being behind said third work station in the direction of rotation of said first turret.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 3 which comprises: means at a sixth work station, adjacent said second turret for clearing lock tabs and/or a latch from said latch holding means in the event that assembly is not achieved at said third work station; said sixth work station being positioned behind said third work station in the direction of rotation of said second turret.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said indexing means includes a drag acting against the rotation of said turret whereby positive positioning of saiD turrets is maintained.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
148 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which comprises: said ring holding means having a holder plate and a gapper projecting outwardly from said holder plate; said ring loading means including a fin member upon which a ring can be placed with its split ends on either side thereof; said fin member being telescopingly mounted in a loader member; means biasing said fin to a position projecting from said loader member; said gapper and said fin being positioned in alignment at said first work station; means operably connected to said load member for recriprocating said load member towards and away from said ring holding means; said loader member including means stationary with respect to said loader member for scraping a ring off of said fin onto said gapper as it is telescoped inwardly through contact with said gapper as said loader member is being reciprocated forwardly by said recriprocating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
199 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said ring holding means comprises a holder plate having magnets therein for retaining a ring against said holder plate; said holder plate having dimensions such that at least a portion of a ring is exposed in a fore-and-aft direction as it is held in position on said holder plate; ring unloading means being positioned at a fifth work station, adjacent said first turret, for unloading completely assembled rings from said first turret; said fifth work station being behind said third work station in the direction of rotation of said first turret; said ring unloading means including a kicker, means for reciprocating said kicker in a fore-and-aft direction, said kicker being positioned such that its path of travel passes through said exposed portion of a ring on said holder plate when said ring holding means is positioned at said fifth work station; a chute being positioned at said fifth work station at the end of the path of travel of said kicker for capturing a ring which is kicked free of said holder plate; a cone-shaped member positioned at the end of said chute for capturing a ring sliding off the end thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 7 in which said chute includes a flexible tab positioned above said chute and projecting downwardly to the surface of said chute for insuring that rings captured on said chute will lay flat as they slide down said chute.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 8 in which a guard extends outwardly from the end of said chute for preventing rings sliding down said chute from over-shooting said cone positioned at the end of said chute.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
117 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which includes: a pusher slidably mounted in said latch holding means; said forcing means acting on said pusher to move said pusher towards said gapped ends of said ring and thereby force said latch into engagement with said ring; said ring holding means including a locator slidably mounted thereon for slidable movement into engagement with the gapped ends of said ring, to the outside of the circle defined by said ring; means positioned at said third work station for moving said locator into engagement with said ring just prior to the activation of said lifter means whereby said ring is firmly held in position when said latch is engaged into said ring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 10 in which: said latch holding means comprises a jaw; bias means at each side of said jaw to hold each end of said latch firmly in place within said jaw.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 10 in which: said latch holding means is slidably mounted on a track member whereby said latch holding means can be moved upwardly into a position immediately beneath said split ring prior to upward movement of said pusher with respect to said latch holding means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
134 words
The apparatus of claim 12 in which said pusher extends below said latch holding means and is pivotally connected to a rocker arm; said rocker arm being pivotally connected to said track member; bias means between the pusher end of said rocker arm and said latch holding means whereby said pusher and said latch holding means aRe biased to movement away from one another such that the application of a force to the base of the rocker arm near said pusher end thereof causes said latch holding means and said pusher to move upwardly simultaneously until said latch holding means contacts said ring, and then causes said pusher to move upwardly with respect to said latch holding means to push said latch out of said latch holding means and into engagement with said ring.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said means for loading a latch onto said latch holding means includes a punch for punching a latch from a web of plastic and for driving said latch downwardly into said latch holding means; means for advancing said web of plastic to said punch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
131 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which said means for loading lock tabs onto said latch holding means comprises: a first pair of spaced punches for punching lock tabs out of an advancing web of plastic material; a pair of return punches positioned directly below said first punches and being biased to upward movement whereby said lock tabs, after being punched out by said first punches, are returned to said plastic web by said return punches when said first punches retract from said plastic web; means for advancing said plastic web; a pair of loading punches positioned ahead of said first punches and said return punches for driving said lock tabs out of said plastic web in which they are carried and for carrying them downwardly into said latch holding means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2749602A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |