Article transfer apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for transferring at least one article in a step-bystep manner along a predetermined path, comprising an elongated carriage, frame means supporting said carriage for longitudinal movement, gripper means adapted to engage the article, a set of parallel spaced elongated arms supporting said gripper means, means mounted on said carriage and supporting said arms for longitudinal movement to effect lateral movement of said gripper means relative to said carriage, a longitudinally extending splined shaft supported by said carriage, gear means for moving said arms longitudinally in response to rotation of said shaft, a rotary drive member mounted on said shaft, said shaft being movable axially within said drive member, a first electrical stepping motor mounted on said frame means and having an output shaft, means for rotating said drive member in response to rotation of said output shaft of said first stepping motor to effect gripping and releasing of the article, an elongated longitudinally extending rack secured to said carriage, a second electrical stepping motor mounted on said frame means and having an output shaft, means for driving said rack in response to rotation of said output shaft of said second stepping motor for reciprocating said carriage to effect intermittent successive advAncement of the article after it has been gripped, means for producing electrical pulses for each of said stepping motors and for actuating said stepping motors in synchronism, and control means for independently selecting the number of pulses supplied to each of said stepping motors for conveniently and precisely adjusting the limits of movement of said carriage and said gripper means.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive member includes external gear teeth, and said means for rotating said drive member in response to rotation of said output shaft of said first stepping motor, comprised a set of gears connecting said output shaft of said stepping motor to said drive member.

Claim 4

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for driving said rack in response to rotation of said output shaft of said second stepping motor, comprise a set of gears connecting said output shaft of said second stepping motor to said rack.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said pulse producing means include an adjustable frequency oscillator, said control means include a set of pulse counters, a pulse-to-step translator logic circuit, and means responsive to an electrical start signal for controlling the transfer of pulses from said oscillator to said counters and said logic circuit.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said gear means includes a pinion on said splined shaft for each said arm, an elongated rack mounted on each said arm and engaging the corresponding said pinion, and said member is mounted on said shaft between said pinions.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said carriage includes outwardly projecting and longitudinally extending parallel side rails, and said supporting means for said carriage include a series of rollers engaging each of said rails.

Claim 8

An article transfer device including a pair of said apparatus as defined in claim 1 and arranged in opposed relation, and said control means is connected to actuate the corresponding said stepping motors in synchronism.

Claim 9

Apparatus for transferring at least one article in step-by-step manner along a predetermined path, comprising an elongated carriage, frame means supporting said carriage for longitudinal movement, gripper means adapted to engage the article, a set of parallel spaed elongated arms supporting said gripper means, means mounted on said carriage and supporting said arms for longitudinal movement to effect lateral movement of said gripper means relative to said carriage, a longitudinally extending splined shaft supported by said carriage, gear means for moving said arms longitudinally in response to rotation of said shaft, a rotary drive gear mounted on said shaft between said arms, said shaft being movable axially within said drive member, bracket means mounted on said frame means and supporting said drive gear for rotation, a first electrical reversible stepping motor mounted on said bracket means and having an output shaft, gear means connecting said drive gear to said output shaft of said first stepping motor to effect gripping and releasing of the article, an elongated longitudinally extending rack secured to said carriage, a second electrical reversible stepping motor mounted on said frame means and having a shaft, gear means connecting said rack to said output shaft of said second stepping motor for reciprocating said carriage to effect intermittent successive advancement of the article after it has been gripped, means for producing electrical pulses for each of said stepping motors and for actuating said stepping motors in synchronism, means for counting the pulses, and control means for independently selecting the number of counted pulses supplied to each of said stepping motors for conveniently and precisely adjusting the limits of movement of said carriage and said gripper means.

Claim 10

Apparatus for transferring at least one article in step-by-step manner along a predetermined path, comprising an elongated carriage, frame means supporting said carriage for longitudinal movement, gripper means adapted to engage the article, a set of parallel spaed elongated arms supporting said gripper means, means mounted on said carriage and supporting said arms for longitudinal movement to effect lateral movement of said gripper means relative to said carriage, a longitudinally extending splined shaft supported by said carriage, gear means for moving said arms longitudinally in response to rotation of said shaft, a rotary drive gear mounted on said shaft between said arms, said shaft being movable axially within said drive member, bracket means mounted on said frame means and supporting said drive gear for rotation, a first electrical reversible stepping motor mounted on said bracket means and having an output shaft, gear means connecting said drive gear to said output shaft of said first stepping motor to effect gripping and releasing of the article, an elongated longitudinally extending rack secured to said carriage, a second electrical reversible stepping motor mounted on said frame means and having a shaft, gear means connecting said rack to said output shaft of said second stepping motor for reciprocating said carriage to effect intermittent successive advancement of the article after it has been gripped, means for producing electrical pulses for each of said stepping motors and for actuating said stepping motors in synchronism, means for counting the pulses, and control means for independently selecting the number of counted pulses supplied to each of said stepping motors for conveniently and precisely adjusting the limits of movement of said carriage and said gripper means.