Patent US3776342A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3776342A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for transferring articles between moving conveyors
Assignee: Newfrey LLC
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Filing: 1972-01-27
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1992-01-27
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for transferring articles between two moving and perpendicularly oriented conveyors employs a parallel-crank, four-bar linkage suspended from a structural frame to support an article clamping mechanism. The motions of the orbital link and the clamping mechanism are synchronized with and in the same direction as the motions of the articles on the conveyors at pick-up and discharge positions on the conveyors. A cam drive mechanism is utilized to modulate the orbital speeds of the link in systems in which the two conveyors operate at different speeds. An elevating mechanism is also driven in synchronism with the four-bar linkage to raise and lower the linkage and the clamping mechanism at the pick-up and discharge positions. The clamping mechanism incorporates rotatable shafts to open and close a plurality of resilient fingers which engage the articles with a controlled degree of pressure. A cam and cam follower operated by the four-bar linkage adjust the amounts by which the resilient fingers open and close at both the pick-up and the discharge positions.
Inventors
- 👤 C Kulig
- 👤 A Rydlewicz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 19:01
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B35/00; C03B35/04; C03B35/06; C03B35/12; B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/74; B65G47/90; B65G47/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
331 words
Apparatus for transferring articles between a first conveyor on which the articles move serially in a line and a second, generally transverse conveyor on which the articles move in a series of parallel ranks comprising: a structural frame having a generally upright operating position; a parallel-crank, four-bar linkage including two parallel cranks suspended from the frame and having an orbital link connected between the parallel cranks parallel to the line and ranks of articles on the conveyors, the link being translated by the cranks parallel to the conveyor motions at a first position over the first conveyor and a second position over the second conveyor; elevation means connected between the structural frame and the orbital link of the four-bar linkage for adjusting the elevation of the orbital link relative to each of the conveyors; drive means connected in driving relationship to each of the parallel cranks of the four-bar linkage for translating the orbital link over the first and second conveyors at speeds synchronized with the conveyor speeds at the first and second positions; clamping means suspended from the orbital link of the four-bar linkage for engaging and releasing the articles at the first and second positions over The conveyors, the clamping means including a pair of articlegripping shafts mounted to the orbital link and rotatable about axes parallel to the orbital link, a plurality of resilient, article-engaging fingers extending from each shaft for rotation with the shafts and actuating means connected to the pair of article-gripping shafts for rotating the shafts about the parallel axes to cause the resilient, article-engaging fingers to open and close about articles on the conveyors; and adjustable stop means operated by at least one of the parallel cranks and connected with the orbital link and the pair of article-gripping shafts for limiting the rotation of the shafts and the fingers in the opening direction at the second position of the link and parallel cranks without limiting the rotation of the shafts at the first position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
331 words
Apparatus for transferring articles between a first conveyor on which the articles move serially in a line and a second, generally transverse conveyor on which the articles move in a series of parallel ranks comprising: a structural frame having a generally upright operating position; a parallel-crank, four-bar linkage including two parallel cranks suspended from the frame and having an orbital link connected between the parallel cranks parallel to the line and ranks of articles on the conveyors, the link being translated by the cranks parallel to the conveyor motions at a first position over the first conveyor and a second position over the second conveyor; elevation means connected between the structural frame and the orbital link of the four-bar linkage for adjusting the elevation of the orbital link relative to each of the conveyors; drive means connected in driving relationship to each of the parallel cranks of the four-bar linkage for translating the orbital link over the first and second conveyors at speeds synchronized with the conveyor speeds at the first and second positions; clamping means suspended from the orbital link of the four-bar linkage for engaging and releasing the articles at the first and second positions over The conveyors, the clamping means including a pair of articlegripping shafts mounted to the orbital link and rotatable about axes parallel to the orbital link, a plurality of resilient, article-engaging fingers extending from each shaft for rotation with the shafts and actuating means connected to the pair of article-gripping shafts for rotating the shafts about the parallel axes to cause the resilient, article-engaging fingers to open and close about articles on the conveyors; and adjustable stop means operated by at least one of the parallel cranks and connected with the orbital link and the pair of article-gripping shafts for limiting the rotation of the shafts and the fingers in the opening direction at the second position of the link and parallel cranks without limiting the rotation of the shafts at the first position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus for transferring as defined in claim 1 wherein the adjustable stop means includes a cam mounted to one of the cranks of the parallel-crank, four-bar linkage and an adjustable stop member connected with a cam follower mounted on the orbital link adjacent the cam and the one of the cranks whereby relative movement of the orbital link and the one of the cranks causes the cam and cam follower to adjust the stop member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein: the adjustable stop member has a tapered end projecting from the orbital link toward the pair of parallel gripping shafts; and the adjustable stop means further includes a pair of bushes mounted respectively on the pair of rotatable gripping shafts adjacent the adjustable stop member, each bush having a flat on the peripheral surface disposed to contact the tapered end of the adjustable stop member at selected adjustment positions of the stop member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus for transferring articles as defined in claim 1 wherein the drive means includes a cam and cam follower connected in driving relationship to the parallel cranks of the four-bar linkage and providing different synchronized speeds at the first and second positions of the orbital link.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus for transferring articles as defined in claim 1 further including a scavenger bar mounted to the structural frame parallel to the ranks of the articles on the second conveyor and actuating means connected to the scavenger bar for reciprocating the scavenger bar toward and away from the ranks of articles on the second conveyor in timed relationship with the translation of the orbital link between the first and second positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus for transferring articles as defined in claim 1 wherein the elevation means includes a cam and cam follower connected in driving relationship with the driving means for adjusting the elevation of the orbiting link relative to the conveyors in synchronism with the translation of the orbital link between the first and second positions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |