Patent US3752311A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3752311A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sorting devices
Assignee: APEG HOCHDRUCKTECHNIK
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Filing: 1972-03-22
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Granted: 1973-08-14
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Expires: 1992-03-22
Abstract
Abstract A sorting device for helical springs for sorting springs equipped with a mounting leg and comprising a conveyor for the springs, a feed duct arranged to receive springs from the conveyor, a supporting element mounted in the feed duct, for supporting springs thereon, a sensor piston operated by a pressure source and arranged to engage with a spring resting on the supporting element whereby the piston moves to different positions depending on whether the mounting leg of the spring is in the correct or incorrect position, means for transferring a spring having its mounting leg in the correct position to a station for further processing and means for ejecting a spring having its mounting leg in the incorrect position.
Inventors
- 👤 K Kobusch
- 👤 A Manke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:47
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/22; B65G47/24; B65G47/256; B65G2203/00; B65G2203/04; B65G2203/042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A sorting device for helical springs for sorting springs equipped with a mounting leg, said sorting device comprising conveyor means for said springs, a feed duct arranged to receive springs from said conveyor means, a supporting element mounted in said feed duct, a sensor piston adapted to be operated by a pressure source and arranged to engage with a spring resting on said supporting element whereby the piston moves to different positions depending on whether the mounting leg of said spring is in the correct or incorrect position, means for transferring a spring having its mounting leg in the correct position to a station for further processing and means for ejecting a spring having its mounting leg in the incorrect position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A sorting device for helical springs for sorting springs equipped with a mounting leg, said sorting device comprising conveyor means for said springs, a feed duct arranged to receive springs from said conveyor means, a supporting element mounted in said feed duct, a sensor piston adapted to be operated by a pressure source and arranged to engage with a spring resting on said supporting element whereby the piston moves to different positions depending on whether the mounting leg of said spring is in the correct or incorrect position, means for transferring a spring having its mounting leg in the correct position to a station for further processing and means for ejecting a spring having its mounting leg in the incorrect position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A sorting device as claimed in claim 1, in which said feed duct is arranged to receive helical springs to be sorted and is adjustable to conform with the diameter of the springs to be sorted by means of guide strips.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A sorting device as claimed in claim 2 in which said supporting element is located at the end of the feed duct and is provided with an oblong hole by means of which said element may be adjustably mounted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
A sorting device as claimed in claim 1, in which a piston means and a ''''correct'''' duct are provided for springs having the mounting leg in the correct position and a piston means and a return duct leading back to the conveyor are provided for springs having the mounting leg in the incorrect position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sorting device as claimed in claim 4, in which a guide having a chamfer is provided between said piston means and the return duct.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A sorting device as claimed in claim 1, in which a pressure source is connected by an accumulator unit and a manually operable main valve with a clock generator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
A sorting device as claimed in claim 6, in which said sensor piston is connected with said clock generator and its pressure side is connected through a ''''correct'''' valve in the inoperative position with one side of the control slide of a switching valve, whilst the cylinder in the sensor piston communicates with the other side of the control slide of said switching valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A sorting device as claimed in claim 7, in which the control slide of an ejector valve is connected through a first delay valve and a second delay valve to the pressure source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A sorting device as claimed in claim 7, in which the delay times for thE response of said delay valves are adjustable through one-way delay members each consisting of a non-return valve and an adjustable restriction mounted in parallel.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
267 words
A device for the automatic sorting of cylindrical parts, and more particularly for helical springs with mounting legs or cylindrical parts with central bores of different diameters, comprising a feed duct with a support element at its end on which rests a cylindrical portion with its surface, a sensor piston whose axis substantially coincides with the axis of a cylindrical part resting on the support element, a positional sensing device which produces as a function of the position of the sensor piston relative to the cylindrical part a ''''correct'''' or an ''''incorrect'''' signal, and two control devices of which one is adapted to be actuated by a ''''correct'''' signal and the other by an ''''incorrect'''' signal for the differential treatment of cylindrical parts in the correct or incorrect position, said support element comprising a slide movable by a first adjusting device receiving in a first position a cylindrical part, and located in a second position opposite a holding device whereby the cylindrical part is gripped and retained, whereupon the slide is moved back by said first adjusting device into said first position, said holding device being movable by a second device to and from a place of delivery, and said holding device being rotatably mounted and serving to retain by means of a first control device in the case of a ''''correct'''' signal the cylindrical part in a first position at the place of delivery, and in the case of an ''''incorrect'''' signal retains by means of a second control device the cylindrical part at the place of delivery rotated through 180* relative to the first position.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
267 words
A device for the automatic sorting of cylindrical parts, and more particularly for helical springs with mounting legs or cylindrical parts with central bores of different diameters, comprising a feed duct with a support element at its end on which rests a cylindrical portion with its surface, a sensor piston whose axis substantially coincides with the axis of a cylindrical part resting on the support element, a positional sensing device which produces as a function of the position of the sensor piston relative to the cylindrical part a ''''correct'''' or an ''''incorrect'''' signal, and two control devices of which one is adapted to be actuated by a ''''correct'''' signal and the other by an ''''incorrect'''' signal for the differential treatment of cylindrical parts in the correct or incorrect position, said support element comprising a slide movable by a first adjusting device receiving in a first position a cylindrical part, and located in a second position opposite a holding device whereby the cylindrical part is gripped and retained, whereupon the slide is moved back by said first adjusting device into said first position, said holding device being movable by a second device to and from a place of delivery, and said holding device being rotatably mounted and serving to retain by means of a first control device in the case of a ''''correct'''' signal the cylindrical part in a first position at the place of delivery, and in the case of an ''''incorrect'''' signal retains by means of a second control device the cylindrical part at the place of delivery rotated through 180* relative to the first position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
A device as claimed in claim 10, in which the slide contains a fluid operated piston with a piston rod and a pocket corresponding to the cylindrical part and in which the same is arranged to be retained, said piston rod being arranged to be moved through an opening in the bottom of the pocket and to push in the second position of the slide said cylindrical part into the holding device when the piston is operated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as claimed in claim 11, in which the holding device has two spring-loaded, spaced-apart grippers which retain the cylindrical part.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device as claimed in claim 12, in which the holding device has two parallel spaced-apart leaf springs the free ends of which have projections, whereby the cylindrical part held between the leaf springs is prevented from sliding out.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 13, in which the distance between the leaf springs is variable.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device as claimed in claim 10, in which said second device is a fluid operated piston which can be moved into a position rotated through 180* by operating one of the two control devices.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
72 words
A device as claimed in claim 15, in which the piston of the second device has a first straight groove extending parallel to the axis of the piston, and a second spiral groove extending around 180* of the circumference of the piston, one control device having a plunger adapted to engage with the first groove and the other control device having a plunger which is adapted to engage with the second groove.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as claimed in claim 16, in which the spiral groove has straight end sections.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 16, in which the plungers are connected with fluid operated pistons.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as claimed in claim 15, in which a return spring is provided for the piston which is arranged to withdraw the piston from the place of delivery.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device as claimed in claim 15, in which an index surface is provided against which rest at choice two opposite surfaces during the movement of the piston to the place of delivery in order to provide alignment for the cylindrical part.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as claimed in claim 10 and including a movable receiviNg mandril at the place of delivery for receiving the cylindrical part.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as claimed in claim 10, in which the cylindrical part is a helical spring with a radially inwardly angled end.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
56 words
A device as claimed in claim 10 and including a pneumatic control with a pressure source and valves associated with the individual fluid operated pistons, a pneumatic clock generator, and pneumatic delay members associated with the valves for the timing of the valve operation, and thereby of the actuation of the pistons by the pressure source.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3221857A
Cited
US3603441A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-13 | 1977-02-12 | 1977-08-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-13 | 1981-02-12 | 1981-08-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-13 | 1985-02-12 | 1985-08-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |