US3776416A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Article handling system
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1973-01-03
•
Granted: 1973-12-04
•
Expires: 1993-01-03
Abstract
Abstract A battery gun has a stationary housing; a plurality of barrels disposed in an annular row and stationary with respect to said housing; each of said barrels having a respective chamber; feeding means for receiving a continuous and regular train of projectiles from a supply; intermediate means for receiving the train from said feeding means; and distributor means for receiving the train from said intermediate means for providing projectiles to said chambers; said intermediate means including means for sensing the presence of misfired projectiles in said chambers and for providing lacunae in the train of projectiles corresponding to such misfires, whereby no projectiles are provided to said distributor means for provision to chambers containing misfired projectiles.
Inventors
- 👤 P Spoor
- 👤 B Clark
- 👤 G Kontis
- 👤 E Ashley
- 👤 F Jarvis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:34
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41A; F41A9/00; F41A9/35; F41A17/00; F41A17/14; F41F; F41F1/00; F41F1/08; F41F1/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
An article handling system comprising: a plurality of work stations disposed in an annular row; article distribution means including: an annular conveyor rotating about said annular row of work stations and passing a feeding station for receiving a continuous series of articles from said feeding station, means for sequentially transporting each of the articles from said annular conveyor to a respective one of said work stations, each work station in progressive sequence receiving one such article, for halting such article at such respective work station for a given period of time, and for thereafter discharging such article from said work station; and means for sensing the presence of an undischarged article from a workstation and coupled to said feeding station for providing lacunae in the series of articles corresponding to such undischarged articles, whereby no articles are provided to said conveyor for provision to work stations containing undischarged articles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
An article handling system comprising: a plurality of work stations disposed in an annular row; article distribution means including: an annular conveyor rotating about said annular row of work stations and passing a feeding station for receiving a continuous series of articles from said feeding station, means for sequentially transporting each of the articles from said annular conveyor to a respective one of said work stations, each work station in progressive sequence receiving one such article, for halting such article at such respective work station for a given period of time, and for thereafter discharging such article from said work station; and means for sensing the presence of an undischarged article from a workstation and coupled to said feeding station for providing lacunae in the series of articles corresponding to such undischarged articles, whereby no articles are provided to said conveyor for provision to work stations containing undischarged articles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
125 words
An article handling system including: a plurality of work stations disposed in an annular row and each having a respective workpiece receiving chamber; feeding means for receiving a continuous and regular train of workpieces from a supply; distributor means for receiving the train of workpieces from said feeding means, for providing workpieces to each of said chambers, for retaining for processing each workpiece in said chamber, and for discharging each processed workpiece from said chamber, and means for sensing the presence of an undischarged processed article from a chamber and coupled to said feeding means for providing lacunae in the train of articles corresponding to such undischarged workpieces, whereby no workpieces are provided to said distributor means for provision to chambers containing undischarged, processed workpieces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
125 words
An article handling system including: a plurality of work stations disposed in an annular row and each having a respective workpiece receiving chamber; feeding means for receiving a continuous and regular train of workpieces from a supply; distributor means for receiving the train of workpieces from said feeding means, for providing workpieces to each of said chambers, for retaining for processing each workpiece in said chamber, and for discharging each processed workpiece from said chamber, and means for sensing the presence of an undischarged processed article from a chamber and coupled to said feeding means for providing lacunae in the train of articles corresponding to such undischarged workpieces, whereby no workpieces are provided to said distributor means for provision to chambers containing undischarged, processed workpieces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein: said distributor means includes: a distributor ring having a plurality of compartments disposed in an annular row, each compartment for receiving a respective workpiece from said feeding means; and intermediate means for transferring a workpiece from a compartment to a respective unoccupied chamber and for not transferring from such compartment if the respective chamber is preoccupied; said sensing means sensing the presence of an undischarged processed workpiece by sensing the presence of an untransferred workpiece in such compartment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 3 wherein: said sensing means is coupled to said feeding means for interrupting the passage of workpieces from said feeding means to said distributor means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
A system according to claim 3 whereiN: said feeding means includes: a feed sprocket for passing workpieces as a train to said distributor means, a differential gear system coupling said feed sprocket to a source of rotary power; and said sensing means is coupled to said differential gear system for actuating said differential gear system to decouple said feed sprocket from said power source when said sensing means senses the presence of an untransferred workpiece.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 5 wherein: said differential gear system includes: a spider which is normally locked to provide a fixed gear train function and which is unlocked by said sensing means to decouple said feed sprocket.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system according to claim 5 wherein: said spider is locked by a pawl and detent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system according to claim 5 wherein: said spider is locked by a geneva wheel system.
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 |