US3789973A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Material conveyance system for feeding workpieces to a processing tool
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-12-29
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1992-12-29
Abstract
Abstract A material conveyance system usable for feeding workpieces formed of sheet material to a processing tool, such as a punch or perforator, and for extracting the workpieces therefrom. The workpieces are transported from a conveyor inlet station by pairs of endless belts arranged to hold the workpieces firmly between them until released at a transfer location onto a conveyor table horizontally aligned with the processing tool. Positioning members then assist insertion of the workpieces into the processing tool and align the workpieces for processing. The workpieces are extracted from the processing tool by the action of one of the pairs of endless belts circulating around a reciprocating frame arranged directly above and parallel to the conveyor table and are then transported rearward to a finished parts storage.
Inventors
- 👤 W Kugler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:29
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21D; B21D43/00; B21D43/02; B21D43/04; B21D43/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S271/00; Y10S271/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A material conveyance system and particularly an apparatus for feeding and extracting wOrkpieces of sheet-like material to and from a processing tool comprising: a machine support; longitudinally extending conveyor means mounted to said support in horizontal alignment with said processing tool; a first and a second endless belt conveyor system established and adapted for cooperating between a workpiece inlet and a transfer station, one belt of the first and of the second system being positioned between said stations co-extensive vertically closely above each other establishing a vertical spacing therebetween only sufficient to retain a sheet-like workpiece under pressure, the spacing between said belts increasing at said transfer station for releasing said workpiece onto said tool; and a longitudinally reciprocating workpiece retracting frame disposed above said conveyor means, one of said belts extending from said transfer station between and co-extensive with and in close contact to said conveyor means and frame.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A material conveyance system and particularly an apparatus for feeding and extracting wOrkpieces of sheet-like material to and from a processing tool comprising: a machine support; longitudinally extending conveyor means mounted to said support in horizontal alignment with said processing tool; a first and a second endless belt conveyor system established and adapted for cooperating between a workpiece inlet and a transfer station, one belt of the first and of the second system being positioned between said stations co-extensive vertically closely above each other establishing a vertical spacing therebetween only sufficient to retain a sheet-like workpiece under pressure, the spacing between said belts increasing at said transfer station for releasing said workpiece onto said tool; and a longitudinally reciprocating workpiece retracting frame disposed above said conveyor means, one of said belts extending from said transfer station between and co-extensive with and in close contact to said conveyor means and frame.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A material conveyance system according to claim 1, wherein said conveyor means is a stationary conveyor table.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A material conveyance system according to claim 2, wherein said conveyor table is provided with a plurality of freely rotatable rollers arranged in two parallel rows which form the surface of said table.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A material conveyance system according to claim 1, wherein each endless belt conveyor system comprises a pair of belts extending parallel but spaced transversely in the direction of travel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A material conveyance system according to claim 4, and a turn station between said inlet and transfer stations, effective to change the direction of said belts about 180*.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A material conveyance system according to claim 5, wherein said cooperating belts ahead of and past said turn station extend horizontally.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A material conveyance system according to claim 1, and a longitudinal positioning member pivotably mounted on said support at said transfer station, and a driven linkage to sequentially move said longitudinal positioning member horizontally against the workpiece and, during the workpiece withdrawal movement, out of the withdrawal path of said workpiece.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A material conveyance system according to claim 7, and a transverse positioning member pivotably mounted on said support on each side of said workpiece adjacent to said transfer station, and a driven linkage to align said workpiece with the center line of the feed path of said workpieces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
A material conveyance system according to claim 1, wherein said inlet station comprises two pairs of idler rollers arranged one above the other in a staggered relationship, with each pair of said rollers effecting a 180* turn of one pair of said belts, and a pair of feed rollers pivotably mounted to said frame, said feed rollers being pivotably movable by a driven linkage and effective to sequentially feed said workpieces to said conveyance system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
A material conveyance system according to claim 1, wherein said frame is provided with a pair of idler rollers at the forward end thereof adjacent to said transfer station and another pair of idler rollers at the rearward end thereof for supporting and guiding a pair of said belts in close proximity to said conveyor means, and a driven linkage system connected to said frame to impart said reciprocating motion to said frame.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
A material conveyance system according to claim 8, and a continuously driven control shaft rotatably mounted on said machine support in a transverse position below said conveyor means; said shaft being connected by a cam, crank arm, and linkage means to said longitudinal positioning member, said transverse positioning member, and said frame; said shaft with said cam, crank arm, and linkage means being effective to synchronously operate the positioning members and the displaceable frame.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A material conveyance system according to claim 1, wherein said processing tool is interchangeably mounted on said machine frame and is provided with a driven linkage For synchronous operation with said longitudinal and transverse positioning members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A material conveyance system according to claim 9, wherein said feed rollers are pivotably movable in synchronism with said processing tool, said positioning members, and said displaceable frame by a cam drive, linkage, and endless chain means driven from said control shaft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A material conveyance system according to claim 4, wherein the upper pair of said endless belts extending from said turn station to said transfer station is the lower pair of said endless belts in the section between said inlet and turn stations.
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) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |