Self-aligning object placement apparatus

Claim 2

A self-aligning object placement apparatus for positioning an object with respect to a receiving means comprising: upper and lower elongated members, each of said members having longitudinal axes substantially parallel to each other; means for biasing an end surface of each of said members together for maintaining placement of one of said members with respect to the other of said members after one of said members has been laterally moved within a pickup zone; an object alignment collar mounted on one of said members for engaging said object within said pickup zone; reciprocating means connected to the other of said members for moving both of said members substantially perpendicularly toward and away from said pickup zone; pickup homing means for moving said alignment collar so that said object engaged thereby is aligned for correct placement with respect to said receiving means, said receiving means being substantially aligned with said pickup homing means; said reciprocating means causing movement of said elongated members and said alignment collar away from said pickup homing means substantially perpendicularly toward said receiving means for placement of said object onto said receiving means.

Claim 3

A self-aligning object placement apparatus for positioning an object with respect to a receiving means as defined in claim 1 further including facets on the inside of said alignment collar for properly radially orienting said object before it is engaged by said alignment collar.

Claim 4

A self-aligning object placement apparatus for positioning an object with respect to a receiving means as defined in claim 1 wherein said alignment of said alignment collar by said pickup homing means is effected by the engagement of chamferred surfaces on said object alignment collar and on said pickup homing means.

Claim 5

A self-aligning object placement apparatus for positioning an object with respect to a receiving means comprising: upper and lower elongated members, each of said members having longitudinal axes substantially parallel to each other; means for biasing an end surface of each of said members together for maintaining placement of one of said members with respect to the other of said members after one of said members has been laterally moved within a pickup zone; an object alignment collar mounted on one of said members for engaging said object within said pickup zone; reciprocating means connected to the other of said members for moving both of said members substantially perpendicularly toward and away from said pickup zone; pickup homing means for moving said alignment collar to the center of said pickup zone; receiving homing means aligned with respect to said receiving means, said receiving homing means engaging said alignment collar for movement of said collar into substantial alignment with said receiving means; said reciprocating means causing movement of said elongated members and said alignment collar away from said pickup homing means for placement of said object onto said receiving means.

Claim 6

A self-aligning object placement apparatus for positioning an object with respect to a receiving means comprising: upper and lower elongated members, each of said members having longitudinal axes substantially parallel to each other; means for biasing an end surface of each of said members together for maintaining placement of one of said members with respect to the other of said members after one of said members has been laterally moved within a pickup zone; an object alignment collar mounted on one of said members for engaging said object within said pickup zone; reciprocating means connected to the other of said members for moving both of said members substantially perpendicularly toward and away from said pickup zone; pickup homing means for moving said alignment collar to the center of said pickup zone; receiving homing means aligned with respect to said receiving means, said receiving homing means engaging said alignment collar for movement of said collar into substantial alignment with said receiving means; said reciprocating means causing movement of said elongated members and said alignment collar away from said pickup homing means for placement of said object onto said receiving means.

Claim 7

A self-aligning object placement apparatus for pOsitioning an object with respect to a receiving means as defined in claim 4 wherein said alignment of said alignment collar by said receiving homing means is effected by the engagement of chamferred surfaces on said object alignment collar and on said receiving homing means.

Claim 8

A self-aligning object placement apparatus for positioning an object with respect to a receiving means comprising: upper and lower cylinders, each of said cylinders having longitudinal axes substantially parallel to each other; means for biasing an end surface of each of said cylinders together for maintaining placement of one of said cylinders with respect to the other of said cylinders after one of said cylinders has been laterally moved within a pickup zone; an object alignment collar mounted on one of said cylinders for engaging said object within said pickup zone, said object alignment collar having facets on the inside of said collar for properly radially orienting said object before it is engaged by said alignment collar; reciprocating means connected to the other end of said cylinders for moving both of said cylinders substantially perpendicularly toward and away from said pickup zone; pickup homing means for moving said alignment collar into the center of said pickup zone, said pickup homing means and said object alignment collar having chamferred surfaces for engagement with each other to correctly orient said alignment collar with respect to said pickup zone; said reciprocating means causing movement of said cylinders and said alignment collar away from said pickup homing means substantially perpendicularly toward said receiving means for placement of said object onto said receiving means; receiving homing means interposed between said alignment collar and said receiving means for correctly orienting said object engaged by said object alignment collar for correct placement onto said receiving means; and said object and said receiving means being supported under said pickup means by at least one movable support means connected to a frame member of said apparatus.

Claim 9

A self-aligning object placement apparatus for positioning an object with respect to a receiving means comprising: upper and lower cylinders, each of said cylinders having longitudinal axes substantially parallel to each other; means for biasing an end surface of each of said cylinders together for maintaining placement of one of said cylinders with respect to the other of said cylinders after one of said cylinders has been laterally moved within a pickup zone; an object alignment collar mounted on one of said cylinders for engaging said object within said pickup zone, said object alignment collar having facets on the inside of said collar for properly radially orienting said object before it is engaged by said alignment collar; reciprocating means connected to the other end of said cylinders for moving both of said cylinders substantially perpendicularly toward and away from said pickup zone; pickup homing means for moving said alignment collar into the center of said pickup zone, said pickup homing means and said object alignment collar having chamferred surfaces for engagement with each other to correctly orient said alignment collar with respect to said pickup zone; said reciprocating means causing movement of said cylinders and said alignment collar away from said pickup homing means substantially perpendicularly toward said receiving means for placement of said object onto said receiving means; receiving homing means interposed between said alignment collar and said receiving means for correctly orienting said object engaged by said object alignment collar for correct placement onto said receiving means; and said object and said receiving means being supported under said pickup means by at least one movable support means connected to a frame member of said apparatus.

Claim 10

Apparatus for aligning an article engaging member with a target, comprising: first and second members each having a surface slideable with respect to the surface of the other member, means connected to said first and second members for biasing the two surfaces of said members together, reciprocating means engaging one of said members for moving said members toward and away from the target, aligning means proximate to the target for causing said first and second members to shift axially one with respect to the other in response to motion of said members toward the target, and an article engaging member connected to one of said first and second members.

Claim 11

Apparatus for aligning an article engaging member with a target, comprising: first and second members each having a surface slideable with respect to the surface of the other member, means connected to said first and second members for biasing the two surfaces of said members together, reciprocating means engaging one of said members for moving said members toward and away from the target, aligning means proximate to the target for causing said first and second members to shift axially one with respect to the other in response to motion of said members toward the target, and an article engaging member connected to one of said first and second members.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 7 in which the target is an article to be engaged.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 7 in which the target is a receiving means in which an article engaged by said article engaging member is to be precisely positioned and released.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 7 additionally comprising: homing means for causing said first and second members to assume a predetermined relative position in response to motion of said members away from the target.