US3757927A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bar stock storage dispensing and feeding apparatus and method
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1971-09-13
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Granted: 1973-09-11
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Expires: 1991-09-13
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for storing dispensing and feeding bars of stock to a material processing device includes a rotatable magazine to and from which bars of stock are transferred laterally and a bar support rack which receives the bars one at a time from the magazine, and transfers them axially into or out of a device such as a lathe for machining. Means are provided for the bidirectional transfer of bars of stock between the magazine and the support rack so that an unused portion of a bar of stock may be removed from the lathe and transferred back into the magazine for storage or disposal. A bar of stock is moved axially along the bar support rack by a pair of skewed concave rollers so that a bar is simultaneously moved axially and rotated about its axis to thus aid in inserting the bar into the lathe spindle collet.
Inventors
- 👤 C Gable
- 👤 M Gotsch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:55
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23B; B23B13/00; B23B13/10; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T82/00; Y10T82/25; Y10T82/2514; Y10T82/2516; Y10T82/2518
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
In combination with a device having a predetermined axis and for processing a bar of stock, a bar stock storage dispensing and feeding system comprising: a rotatable magazine comprising a plurality of spaced members supported on and rotatable about a common axis, said magazine including aligned stock retaining means adapted to store a plurality of bars of stock; a bar support structure adjacent said magazine and axially aligned with the predetermined axis for receiving a bar of stock from said magazine; axial drive means for moving a bar of stock along said bar support structure to selectively insert and remove the bar from the device; said axial drive means including first and second rollers having first and second roller axes respectively, each said roller having a concave lateral surface which selectively contacts a bar in said bar support structure, said roller axes beiNg relatively skewed and each roller axis being skewed relative to the axis of revolution of said device; means for selectively driving at least one of said rollers to revolve about its axis and thereby impart both axial and rotational motion to said bar; and means for selectively transferring a bar of stock between the magazine and bar support structure; and means for selectively moving said roller axes away and toward the predetermined axis to thereby selectively disengage and engage said axial drive means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
In combination with a device having a predetermined axis and for processing a bar of stock, a bar stock storage dispensing and feeding system comprising: a rotatable magazine comprising a plurality of spaced members supported on and rotatable about a common axis, said magazine including aligned stock retaining means adapted to store a plurality of bars of stock; a bar support structure adjacent said magazine and axially aligned with the predetermined axis for receiving a bar of stock from said magazine; axial drive means for moving a bar of stock along said bar support structure to selectively insert and remove the bar from the device; said axial drive means including first and second rollers having first and second roller axes respectively, each said roller having a concave lateral surface which selectively contacts a bar in said bar support structure, said roller axes beiNg relatively skewed and each roller axis being skewed relative to the axis of revolution of said device; means for selectively driving at least one of said rollers to revolve about its axis and thereby impart both axial and rotational motion to said bar; and means for selectively transferring a bar of stock between the magazine and bar support structure; and means for selectively moving said roller axes away and toward the predetermined axis to thereby selectively disengage and engage said axial drive means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
150 words
In combination with a device having a predetermined axis and for processing a bar of stock, a bar stock storage dispensing and feeding system comprising: a rotatable megazine comprising a plurality of spaced members supported on and rotatable about a common axis, said magazine including aligned stock retaining means adapted to store a plurality of bars of stock; a bar support structure adjacent said magazine and axially aligned with the predetermined axis for receiving a bar of stock from said magazine; axial drive means for moving a bar of stock along said bar support structure to selectively insert and remove the bar from the device; means for selectively transferring a bar of stock between the magazine and bar support structure; and a trough intermediate said bar support structure and said magazine whereby bidirectional transfer of a bar of stock between said magazine and said bar support structure may be effected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
150 words
In combination with a device having a predetermined axis and for processing a bar of stock, a bar stock storage dispensing and feeding system comprising: a rotatable megazine comprising a plurality of spaced members supported on and rotatable about a common axis, said magazine including aligned stock retaining means adapted to store a plurality of bars of stock; a bar support structure adjacent said magazine and axially aligned with the predetermined axis for receiving a bar of stock from said magazine; axial drive means for moving a bar of stock along said bar support structure to selectively insert and remove the bar from the device; means for selectively transferring a bar of stock between the magazine and bar support structure; and a trough intermediate said bar support structure and said magazine whereby bidirectional transfer of a bar of stock between said magazine and said bar support structure may be effected.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The structure of claim 2 further comprising a loading platform adapted to support a bar of stock in a position removed from but substantially parallel to the predetermined axis, said loading platform being positioned relatively to said rotatable magazine so that the bar of stock may be moved laterally into the stock retaining means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The structure of claim 3 further comprising restricting means associated with at least one of said spaced members and selectively movable between a first position for preventing the inadvertent removal of a bar from the retaining means and a second position for allowing a bar of stock to be inserted in said magazine from said loading platform.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The structure of claim 4 wherein both removal from and insertion into the rotatable magazine are possible when said restricting means is in said second position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
The structure of claim 2 wherein said bar support structure comprises a plurality of pairs of rollers adapted to support said bar for rotation relative to the device and at least one retaining roller, said retaining roller movable between a first position wherein said bar support structure may receive a bar of stock and a second position for retaining a bar of stock on said bar support structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
179 words
A bar stock storage, dispensing, and feeding system comprising: a rotatable magazine comprising a plurality of slotted spaced members supported on and rotatable about a common axis; said members each having a plurality of angularly spaced apart slots with each of the slots opening at an outer peripheral region of the member in which the slot is formed; said members being disposed in alignment with one another at spaced apart locations along the common axis; a loading platform adapted to support a bar of stock in a position removed from but substantially parallel to the common axis, said loading platform being positioned relative to said rotatable magazine so that the bar of stock may be moved into the aligned slots of at least two adjacent ones of said spaced members; keeper means mounted on at least one of said members for closing slot openings adjacent said outer peripheral region and preventing the inadvertent removal of a bar from a slot; and means for engaging a bar adjacent to said magazine and transferring that bar to a bar support rack.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
179 words
A bar stock storage, dispensing, and feeding system comprising: a rotatable magazine comprising a plurality of slotted spaced members supported on and rotatable about a common axis; said members each having a plurality of angularly spaced apart slots with each of the slots opening at an outer peripheral region of the member in which the slot is formed; said members being disposed in alignment with one another at spaced apart locations along the common axis; a loading platform adapted to support a bar of stock in a position removed from but substantially parallel to the common axis, said loading platform being positioned relative to said rotatable magazine so that the bar of stock may be moved into the aligned slots of at least two adjacent ones of said spaced members; keeper means mounted on at least one of said members for closing slot openings adjacent said outer peripheral region and preventing the inadvertent removal of a bar from a slot; and means for engaging a bar adjacent to said magazine and transferring that bar to a bar support rack.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The structure of claim 7 wherein said means for engaging and transferring comprises: means for moving a bar laterally away from said rotatable magazine; said structure further comprising means For moving a bar axially along the bar support rack in a direction parallel to said common axis toward the material processing device along a fixed axis of movement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
The structure of claim 8 wherein said means for moving a bar axially comprises: first and second rollers having first and second roller axes respectively, each said roller having a concave lateral surface for contacting said bar, said roller axes being relatively skewed and each roller axis being skewed relative to the fixed axis of movement; and means for selectively driving one of said rollers to revolve about its axis and thereby impart both axial and rotational motion to said bar.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure of claim 9 further comprising means for selectively moving the roller axes away from the fixed axis of movement and toward the fixed axis of movement to thereby selectively engage said axial moving means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The structure of claim 8 wherein said structure includes: a trough into which a bar may roll from said magazine; and said means for engaging and transferring is effective to move a bar from said trough into a position for axial movement toward the material processing device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The structure of claim 11 wherein said means for engaging and transferring comprises a plurality of lateral transfer devices lying along the bottom of said trough and movable upwardly to raise said bar and allow it to roll out of said trough and into said axial movement position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
The structure of claim 12 further comprising: lateral reject means actuable to move a bar from said axial movement position back into said trough; lateral return means for moving a bar from said trough into said magazine; and retaining means for movably securing a bar in said axial motion position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The structure of claim 13 wherein said retaining means is selectively movable between a bar retaining position and a position allowing the effective actuation of said lateral reject means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The structure of claim 14 wherein said retaining means is mechanically linked to and actuable with said lateral discharge means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The structure of claim 11 further comprising lateral reject means actuable to move a bar from said axial movement position back into said trough; and lateral return means for moving a bar from said trough into said magazine.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-10 | 1977-03-12 | 1977-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-10 | 1981-03-12 | 1981-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-10 | 1985-03-12 | 1985-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |