Continuous motion two part assembly machine

Claim 2

A continuous motion two part assembly machine comprising a frame, a turntable rotatably mounted about an axis with respect to said frame and rotating in a cycle of operation, a plurality of actuable means mounted for movement with said turntable, means to supply a first of said parts to be assembled, means to supply a second of said parts to be assembled, said means to supply said first part to be assembled depositing said first part in position to be moved by movement of said turntable in its cycle of operation, and said means to supply said second of said parts depositing said second parts in position to be moved with the turntable and aligned with a first of said parts along a line of operation of said actuable means, said actuable means including means to inspect one of said parts, means to reject said inspected part if said inspected part is not acceptable, and means to operate said actuable means to move aligning first parts and second parts into assembly subsequent to the means to reject in the cycle of operation of said turntable, whereby assembly of the parts will occur only if the inspected part has not been rejected.

Claim 3

The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said first part is deposited on a stationary shelf member, and means on said turntable to engage and move said first parts along said shelf member as said turntable rotates.

Claim 4

The combination as specified in claim 2 and support means positioned for movement with said turntable for supporting said second parts.

Claim 5

The combination as specified in claim 3 wherein said means to move said first and second parts with said turntable comprise recesses formed in the peripheral edges of said turntable, said recesses being of size to receive the respective parts and having central portions aligned with each other in direction of movement of said actuable means, said shelf member extending inwardly from the outer periphery of said turntable to effectively divide the recesses for the first part from the aligned recess for the second part during a preselected portion of each rotational cycle of said turntable.

Claim 6

The combination as specified in claim 4 wherein the shelf member supporting said first part terminates adjacent the position where said actuable means move the parts into assembly, and said assembled first and second parts thereafter being supported on said support means.

Claim 7

The combination as specified in claim 2 wherein said means to inspect one of said parts, comprises means to move one of said actuable means into engagement with a first part, means to releasably retain an acceptable first part on said actuable means, and means to move said actuable means in direction to lift acceptable first parts off said shelf member during a preselected amount of rotation of said turntable.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 6 further characterized in that said means to reject said first part comprises means to remove from said turntable a first part resting on said shelf member and being moved therealong by said turntable during said preselected amount of rotation thereof.

Claim 9

The combination as specified in claim 1 and means operating said actuable means comprising a stationary cam, and cam followers on said actuable means engaging said cam as said turntable rotates.

Claim 10

The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said turntable has a thickness in axial direction, and means to retain said first parts adjacent a first side of said turntable when said means to inspect and reject are operating, and means to retain said second parts adjacent a second side of said turntable and aligned in axial directIon with said first parts.

Claim 11

A two part assembly machine comprising a frame, a rotating turntable rotatably mounted with respect to said frame about a substantially upright axis, a first shelf mounted on said frame adjacent the periphery of said turntable and extending therearound for a preselected distance, said shelf being stationary with respect to said turntable and being positioned below at least a peripheral portion of said turntable, a plurality of annularly spaced pocket means formed in said peripheral portion of said turntable above said shelf and open to the peripheral edge of said turntable, means to deliver a first article to be assembled onto said shelf, said first articles being urged toward the axis of said turntable whereby each pocket means picks up one of said first articles as the turntable rotates and moves said first articles along said shelf, means to deliver a second article to said turntable below said shelf, said turntable having a second article support carried thereby on which said second articles are supported, means to inspect said first articles, means to reject defective first articles in response to said means to inspect, means operable by said turntable subsequent to rotation thereof past the means to reject and responsive to absence of a first article to cause rejection of second articles at a corresponding pocket means on said turntable, and assembly means to move acceptable first articles toward the second article support for assembly with a second article after the turntable has moved past the means causing rejection of said second articles in absence of said first articles, and means to remove and sort parts from said turntable subsequent to rotation past the assembly means whereby any first articles not assembled in second articles will be rejected, and assembled articles including said second article will be accepted.

Claim 12

A two part assembly machine comprising a frame, a rotating turntable rotatably mounted with respect to said frame about a substantially upright axis, a first shelf mounted on said frame adjacent the periphery of said turntable and extending therearound for a preselected distance, said shelf being stationary with respect to said turntable and being positioned below at least a peripheral portion of said turntable, a plurality of annularly spaced pocket means formed in said peripheral portion of said turntable above said shelf and open to the peripheral edge of said turntable, means to deliver a first article to be assembled onto said shelf, said first articles being urged toward the axis of said turntable whereby each pocket means picks up one of said first articles as the turntable rotates and moves said first articles along said shelf, means to deliver a second article to said turntable below said shelf, said turntable having a second article support carried thereby on which said second articles are supported, means to inspect said first articles, means to reject defective first articles in response to said means to inspect, means operable by said turntable subsequent to rotation thereof past the means to reject and responsive to absence of a first article to cause rejection of second articles at a corresponding pocket means on said turntable, and assembly means to move acceptable first articles toward the second article support for assembly with a second article after the turntable has moved past the means causing rejection of said second articles in absence of said first articles, and means to remove and sort parts from said turntable subsequent to rotation past the assembly means whereby any first articles not assembled in second articles will be rejected, and assembled articles including said second article will be accepted.

Claim 13

The combination as specified in claim 10 and separate plunger means mounted on said turntable adjacent each pocket means and movable substantially in axial direction of the axis of rotation of said turntable, said plunger means forming a portion of the means to inspect and engaging accepted first articles thereon, said plunger means comprising said means to move said first articles toward the second articles to assemble said first articles into said second articles rotationally subsequent to the position wherein said second articles are removed responsive to absence of said first articles.

Claim 14

The combination as specified in claim 11 wherein said means to reject said second articles comprises an air jet means directed toward the second article support on said turntable, and means to energize said air jet means comprising a switch, means to actuate said switch in response to position of said plungers, said plungers being moved to clear said last mentioned means when a first part is engaged by said plungers.

Claim 15

The combination as specified in said claim 10 wherein said means to inspect said first articles comprises a plunger member associated with each turntable pocket means and engagable with each first article in its corresponding pocket means and including means to removably connect the first article to said plunger member when said first article has a preselected configuration, means operating said plunger member to subsequently lift said plunger member and said first article with said preselected configuration, said means to reject said first articles being rendered ineffective in relation to first articles lifted by said plunger member.

Claim 16

The combination as specified in claim 13 wherein said means to reject said first articles comprises means to cam articles resting on said shelf away from said turntable subsequent to the inspection of said first articles, said means to cam being positioned in location to be effective prior to the time when the turntable has moved to position to cause actuation of the second article rejection means.

Claim 17

The combination as specified in claim 13 wherein said preselecTed configuration comprises the presence of a hole in said first article, and said plunger member comprises a finger of size to fit within said hole, the material of said first article being resilient and the hole being of size to grip said finger.

Claim 18

The combination as specified in said claim 13 wherein said plunger member carries said first article until said turntable has rotated past the means to cause rejection of said second part, and means to retract said finger from said first article.

Claim 19

The combination as specified in claim 13 wherein said plunger members are actuated by cam means, said cam means being mounted on said frame stationary with respect to said turntable, and cam roller means engaging said cam means as said turntable rotates, said cam roller means being connected to actuate said plunger members.

Claim 20

The combination as specified in claim 11 and second pocket means formed in said turntable and open to the periphery thereof, said second pocket means being of size to receive and guide second articles supported on said support member, said first article pocket means and said second pocket means being aligned, and spaced in axial direction of the turntable to a sufficient distance to permit said shelf to separate said pocket means for a preselected portion of travel of said turntable.

Claim 21

The combination as specified in claim 11, and and counting means mounted on said frame engagable only by second parts on said turntable as said turntable rotates, said counting means being positioned subsequent to said assembly means in a rotational cycle of said turntable.