US3825988A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Latch installation machine
Assignee: Questor Corp
•
Filing: 1973-02-21
•
Granted: 1974-07-30
•
Expires: 1993-02-21
Abstract
Abstract A pair of adjacent, rotating turrets are indexed to stop at various assembly stations, spaced circumferentially about each turret. Four ring holders are mounted on one turret for holding split rings. Four parts nests are mounted on the other turret for holding lock tabs and latches which are to be inserted into the rings. A ring loader is positioned at one work station adjacent the first turret for loading a piston ring onto a ring holder. Located at work stations adjacent the second turret are a lock tab loader and a latch loader for loading lock tabs and a latch, respectively, into a parts nest. The two turrets then share a common work station at which a ring holder and a parts nest are in alignment. At this point, a lifter pushes the lock tabs and latch out of the parts nest and into engagement with the ring whereby assembly of the ring and latch is facilitated. A ring unloader is located at yet another work station adjacent the first turret for unloading the completed rings. A clearing station is located at a work station adjacent the second turret for clearing the parts nest of any lock tabs and/or latch which might be left in the parts nest as a result of a defective assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 A Martin
- 👤 A Hardick
- 👤 D House
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 19:28
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16J; F16J9/00; F16J9/10; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/51; Y10T29/5136; Y10T29/5137; Y10T29/5138; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53313; Y10T29/53365; Y10T29/53374; Y10T29/53383; Y10T29/53391
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A latch installation apparatus for installing a latch between the ends of a split ring, said apparatus comprising: means for holding a ring; means for loading a ring onto said ring holding means; means for holding a latch; means for loading a latch onto said latch holding means; means for aligning said latch holding means and said ring holding means; means for forcing said latch into engagement with said ring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
A latch installation apparatus for installing a latch between the ends of a split ring, said apparatus comprising: means for holding a ring; means for loading a ring onto said ring holding means; means for holding a latch; means for loading a latch onto said latch holding means; means for aligning said latch holding means and said ring holding means; means for forcing said latch into engagement with said ring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said ring holding means includes: a ring holder plate, means for retaining a split ring against said holder plate and a gapper projecting outwardly from said holder plate for maintaining a gap between the ends of said split ring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which: said gapper is hingedly mounted with respect to said holder plate whereby when said latch is forced into engagement with the ends of said ring, said gapper pivots upwardly out of the way of said latch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
124 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which: said ring holding means includes means holding said ring with its ends in a predetermined position; an outwardly opening recess in said ring holding means oriented centrally of a ring being held on said ring holding means whereby said latch holding means can be moved into mating engagement with said ring holding means in a position with its latch within the circle defined by said ring and within the plane of said ring in alignment with said ends of said ring; said forcing means acting in a direction within the plane of said ring to force said latch into engagement with said ring when said latch holding means and said ring holding means are in mating engagement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
93 words
The apparatus of claim 4 in which said ring holding means comprises: a holder plate; means for holding said ring against said holder plate; said means for holding said ends of said ring in a predetermined position including a gapper projecting outwardly from said holder plate for holding the gapped ends of said ring in a fixed spaced relationship; said gapper having a generally arrowhead shape with sides sloping outwardly and towards said holder plate to facilitate a smooth transfer of said ring from said ring loading means to said ring holding means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
111 words
The apparatus of claim 5 which includes: a pusher slidably mounted in said latch holding means; said forcing means acting on said pusher to move said pusher towards said gapped ends of said ring and thereby force said latch into engagement with said ring; said ring holding means including a locator slidably mounted thereon for slidable movement into engagement with the gapped ends of said ring, to the outside of the circle defined by said ring; means for moving said locator into engagement with said ring just prior to the activation of said lifter means whereby said ring is firmly held in position when said latch is engaged into said ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus of claim 4 in which: said latch holding means comprises a hinge plate hingedly mounted to a face plate to define a jaw; a spring biasing said hinge plate to movement towards said face plate; said hinge plate having an inside surface spaced from the surface of said face plate a distance less than the width of one of said latches whereby said hinge plate acts to expand slightly as a latch is loaded thereinto and acts to hold said latch firmly in place between said hinge plate and said face plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus of claim 7 which includes: a pusher slidably mounted on said latch holding means; said pusher being at least partially positioned between said hinge plate and said face plate whereby said pusher acts as a resting surface for said latch when it is held in position between said hinge plate and said face plate; said forcing means acting on said pusher to move said pusher towards the ends of said ring and thereby force said latch into said ring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which: said latch holding means includes a face plate; a hinge plate hingedly mounted thereto whereby said face plate and said hinge plate define a jaw; means biasing said hinge plate towards said face plate; a pusher slidably mounted in said latch holding means and being positioned between said face plate and said hinge plate; said forcing means acting on said pusher to push a latch out of said latch holder and into engagement with the ends of said ring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which: said face plate is slidably mounted on a track member whereby said face plate and said hinge plate can be moved upwardly into a position immediately beneath said split ring prior to upward movement of said pusher with respect to said face plate and hinge plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
132 words
The apparatus of claim 10 in which said pusher extends below said face plate and is pivotally connected to a rocker arm; said rocker arm being pivotally connected to said track member; bias means between the pusher end of said rocker arm and said face plate whereby said pusher and said face plate are biased to movement away from one another such that the application of a force to the base of the rocker arm near said pusher end thereof causes said face plate and said pusher to move upwardly simultaneously until said latch holding means contacts said ring, and then causes said pusher to move upwardly with respect to said face plate and hinge plate to push said latch out of said jaw defined thereby and into engagement with said ring.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which comprises: means for loading lock tabs onto said latch holding means, ahead of the loading of said latch onto said latch holding means; said forcing means forcing said lock tabs into engagement with said ring, behind said latch, whereby said latch is locked into position in said ring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
145 words
The apparatus of claim 12 in which: said latch holding means includes a face plate; a pair of hinge plates hingedly joined to said face plate; each of said hinge plates being individually biased to movement towards said face plate whereby each of said hinge plates is capable of holding one of said lock tabs against said face plate; said hinge plates being so positioned with respect to one another that each is capable of holding one end of a latch extending therebetween; a pusher extending upwardly between each of said hinge plates and said face plate, each of said pushers being slidably mounted on said latch holding means and being joined together for simultaneous movement; said forcing means acting on said joined pushers to force said lock tabs and said latch upwardly out of said latch holding means and into engagement with a ring.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
131 words
The apparatus of claim 12 in which said means for loading lock tabs onto said latch holding means comprises: a first pair of spaced punches for punching lock tabs out of an advancing web of plastic material; a pair of return punches positioned directly below said first punches and being biased to upward movement whereby said lock tabs, after being punched out by said first punches, are returned to said plastic web by said return punches when said first punches retract from said plastic web; means for advancing said plastic web; a pair of loading punches positioned ahead of said first punches and said return punches for driving said lock tabs out of said plastic web in which they are carried and for carrying them downwardly into said latch holding means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
143 words
The apparatus of claim 14 which comprises: a reciprocating lifter positioned beneath said lock tab loading means a sufficient distance to allow said latch holding means to be moved into position between said lifter and said lock tab loading means; said lifter acting on said pushers to move them upwardly towards said latch loading means as said loading punches are driven downward;y said pushers and said loading punches being sufficiently long and having sufficient travel to meet and hold said lock tabs therebetween; said lifter including a resilient portion allowing said loading punches to drive said lock tabs and said pushers downwardly into position between said hinge plates and said face plate; said lifter retracting from engagement with said pushers as said loading punches return upwardly, thereby leaving said lock tabs positioned atop said pushers between said hinge plates and said face plate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
92 words
The apparatus of claim 15 in which: said lifter comprises a base; a plate lifter projecting upwardly from said base for operably contacting said face plate; a pusher lifter projecting upwardly from said base for operably contacting said pusher; each of said plate lifter and said pusher lifter including a resilient portion; said resilient portion of said plate lifter being more resistant to flex then said resilient portion of said pusher whereby the downward force of said loading punch forces said pushers downwardly without forcing said face plate and hinge plates downwardly.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said means for loading a latch onto said latch loading means includes a punch for punching a latch from a web of plastic and for driving said latch downwardly into said latch holding means; means for advancing said web of plastic to said punch.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
83 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which comprises: means for extracting a ring from said ring holding means following assembly of said latch into said ring; a downwardly sloping chute for receiving said ring when extracted from said ring holding means; a cone-shaped member positioned at the end of said chute for receiving said rings coming off of said chute; said cone-shaped member being positioned atop a tubular member onto which said rings slide under the weight of succeeding rings gathering on said cone.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 12 which comprises: means for clearing parts such as latches and lock tabs, out of said latch holding means in the event of an aborted assembly into a ring, said clearing means including means forcing said parts out of said latch holding means and means applying a sharp blast of air to said latch holding means for blowing said parts away from said latch holding means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which said ring loading means comprises: means for expanding the gap between the ends of a ring until it is approximately the same as or greater than the width of said gapper; means for moving said expanded ring into engagement with said Gapper and with said means for retaining said ring against said holder plate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
98 words
The apparatus of claim 20 which comprises; said gapper having the general configuration of an arrowhead, having sides sloping away from a nose, towards said holder plate whereby the ends of a ring being loaded onto said ring holding means are gradually expnded by said gapper as said ring is slipped over the end thereof; said outwardly sloping sides each joining a wall jutting inwardly to a rearwardly extending shaft, said inwardly jutting walls thereby defining ridges for preventing a ring which has been slipped over said arrowhead of said gapper from slipping back off of said gapper.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
105 words
An apparatus for assembling a latch between the ends of a split ring, said ring including means for receiving said latch, said apparatus comprising: means for holding a ring and means for holding a latch; said ring holding means including a holder plate, means for retaining a ring against said holder plate and a gapper projecting outwardly from said holder plate for maintaining a gap between the ends of said ring; said latch holding means including means for forcing said latch out of said latch holding means and into engagement with the ends of said ring across said gap which is maintained by said gapper.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
105 words
An apparatus for assembling a latch between the ends of a split ring, said ring including means for receiving said latch, said apparatus comprising: means for holding a ring and means for holding a latch; said ring holding means including a holder plate, means for retaining a ring against said holder plate and a gapper projecting outwardly from said holder plate for maintaining a gap between the ends of said ring; said latch holding means including means for forcing said latch out of said latch holding means and into engagement with the ends of said ring across said gap which is maintained by said gapper.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
107 words
The apparatus of claim 22 comprising: means for loading a ring onto said ring holding means; said gapper having the general configuration of an arrowhead, having sides sloping away from a nose, towards said holder plate, whereby the ends of a ring being loaded onto said ring holding means are gradually expanded by said gapper as said ring is slipped over the end thereof; said outwardly sloping sides each joining a wall jutting inwardly to a rearwardly extending shaft, said inwardly jutting walls thereby defining ridges for preventing a ring which has been slipped over said arrowhead of said gapper from slipping back off of said gapper.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 22 in which said gapper is hingedly mounted with respect to said holder plate whereby when said latch is forced into engagement with the ends of said ring, said gapper pivots upwardly out of the way of said latch.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
87 words
The apparatus of claim 24 in which said ring holding means includes; locators slidably mounted with respect to said holder plate, in alignment with the ends of said ring on either side of said gapper; means for moving said locators into engagement with the exterior surfaces of said ring ends prior to the movement of said latch into engagement with said ring ends whereby said ring ends will be held in a fixed position when said forcing means forces said latch into engagement with said ring ends.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
87 words
The apparatus of claim 22 in which said ring holding means includes: locators slidably mounted with respect to said holder plate, in alignment with the ends of said ring on either side of said gapper; means for moving said locators into engagement with the exterior surfaces of said ring ends prior to the forcing of said latch into engagement with said ring ends whereby said ring ends will be held in a fixed position when said forcing means forces said latch into engagement with said ring ends.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 22 in which said ring holding means includes: a recess in said holder plate located on the interior of the circle defined by said ring whereby said latch holding means matingly engages said holder plate in said recess and is thereby positioned in direct alignment with the ends of said ring, to the interior of the circle defined by said ring.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
99 words
The apparatus of claim 22 which includes: means for unloading a ring from said ring holding means; said holder plate of said ring holding means having dimensions greater than the diameter of the circle defined by said ring; said holder plate having a slot therein passing through the width of said holder plate in alignment with a portion of a ring being held thereon; said ring unloading means including a kicker having dimensions smaller than the dimensions of Said slot and means for moving said kicker through said slot to thereby knock said ring off of said holder plate.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 22 in which said means to retaining a ring against said holder plate comprises magnets embedded in said holder plate.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
99 words
The apparatus of claim 29 which includes: means for unloading a ring from said ring holding means; said holder plate of said ring holding means having dimensions greater than the diameter of the circle defined by said ring; said holder plate having a slot therin passing through the width of said holder plate in alignment with a portion of a ring being held thereon; said ring unloading means including a kicker having dimensions smaller than the dimensions of said slot and means for moving said kicker through said slot to thereby knock said ring off of said holder plate.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
110 words
The apparatus of claim 30 in which said means for unloading a ring from said ring holding means comprises: a chute positioned in alignment with said kicker for capturing said rings as they are knocked off said holder plate; a flexible tab being positioned above said chute and extending downwardly to said chute for insuring that rings sliding down said chute lay flat on said chute; a cone positioned at the end of said chute onto which said rings slide off of the end of said chute; a guard extending outwardly from the end of said chute for preventing rings from sliding past said cone and falling onto the floor.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
132 words
A latch installation apparatus for installing a latch across the ends of a split ring said apparatus comprising: means for holding a latch; means for holding a split ring with its ends positioned above said latch holding means; said latch holding means including a face plate with a hinge plate hingedly mounted thereto whereby said face plate and said hinge plate defined a hinged jaw for holding a latch therein; means biasing said hinge plate towards said face plate; a pusher slidably mounted in said latch holding means and being positioned between said face plate and said hinge plate whereby an upward force can be applied to said pusher to push a latch out of said jaw and into engagement with the ends of said ring positioned above said latch holding means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
132 words
A latch installation apparatus for installing a latch across the ends of a split ring said apparatus comprising: means for holding a latch; means for holding a split ring with its ends positioned above said latch holding means; said latch holding means including a face plate with a hinge plate hingedly mounted thereto whereby said face plate and said hinge plate defined a hinged jaw for holding a latch therein; means biasing said hinge plate towards said face plate; a pusher slidably mounted in said latch holding means and being positioned between said face plate and said hinge plate whereby an upward force can be applied to said pusher to push a latch out of said jaw and into engagement with the ends of said ring positioned above said latch holding means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 32 in which: said face plate is slidably mounted on a track member whereby said face plate can be moved upwardly into a position immediately beneath said ends of said ring prior to upward movement of said pusher with respect to said face plate.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
130 words
The apparatus of claim 33 in which said pusher extends below said face plate and is pivotally connected to a rocker arm; said rocker arm being pivotally connected to said track member; bias means between the pusher end of said rocker arm and said face plate whereby said pusher and said face plate are biased to movement away from one another such that the application of a force to the base of the rocker arm near said pusher end thereof causes said face plate and said pusher to move upwardly simultaneously until said face plate contacts said ring, and then causes said pusher to move upwardly with respect to said face plate to push said latch out of said face plate and hinge plate and into engagement with said ring.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
224 words
A latch installation apparatus for installing a latch across the ends of the split ring, and for installing a pair of lock tabs, one at each of said split ends for hplding said latch in place within said split ring, said apparatus comprising: means for holding a latch and said lock tabs; means for holding a split ring with its ends positioned in alignment with said latch and lock tab holding means; said latch and lock tab holding means including a face plate and a pair of hinge plates hingedly joined to said face plate; each of said hinge plates being individually biased to movement towards said face plate whereby each of said hinge plates is capable of holding one of said lock tabs against said face plate; said hinge plates being so positioned with respect to one another that each iS capable of holding one end of a latch extending between said hinge plates; a pusher extending upwardly between each of said hinge plates and said face plate, each of said pushers being slidably mounted on said latch and lock tab holding means and being joined together for simultaneous movement whereby a force can be applied to said pushers for pushing said lock tabs and said latch upwardly out of said latch and lock tab holding means and into engagement with a ring.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
224 words
A latch installation apparatus for installing a latch across the ends of the split ring, and for installing a pair of lock tabs, one at each of said split ends for hplding said latch in place within said split ring, said apparatus comprising: means for holding a latch and said lock tabs; means for holding a split ring with its ends positioned in alignment with said latch and lock tab holding means; said latch and lock tab holding means including a face plate and a pair of hinge plates hingedly joined to said face plate; each of said hinge plates being individually biased to movement towards said face plate whereby each of said hinge plates is capable of holding one of said lock tabs against said face plate; said hinge plates being so positioned with respect to one another that each iS capable of holding one end of a latch extending between said hinge plates; a pusher extending upwardly between each of said hinge plates and said face plate, each of said pushers being slidably mounted on said latch and lock tab holding means and being joined together for simultaneous movement whereby a force can be applied to said pushers for pushing said lock tabs and said latch upwardly out of said latch and lock tab holding means and into engagement with a ring.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 35 in which the top edges of said pushers are beveled, thereby allowing said lock tabs to flex over the top of said pushers as they are pushed into engagement with said ring.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
188 words
An apparatus for handling small plastic parts comprising: a parts nest for holding said parts; a parts loader for loading said parts into said parts nest; a punch mounted in said parts loader; said parts loader including means defining a passageway in alignment with said punch; said passageway and said punch having approximately the same cross-sectional configuration as that of said part; said parts loader including means for positioning one of said parts in alignment with said passageway and said punch at a point therebetween and means for moving said punch downwardly into said passageway; said parts holder including a pusher having a cross-sectional configuration corresponding approximately to that of said part, said pusher being aligned with said passageway at its end opposite the end at which said punch is located; said parts holder including means for moving said pusher upwardly to said passageway whereby a part pushed through said passageway is captured between said punch and said pusher; means on said parts holder allowing said pusher to be forced downwardly by said punch whereby said punch can drive said part and said pusher into said parts holder.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
188 words
An apparatus for handling small plastic parts comprising: a parts nest for holding said parts; a parts loader for loading said parts into said parts nest; a punch mounted in said parts loader; said parts loader including means defining a passageway in alignment with said punch; said passageway and said punch having approximately the same cross-sectional configuration as that of said part; said parts loader including means for positioning one of said parts in alignment with said passageway and said punch at a point therebetween and means for moving said punch downwardly into said passageway; said parts holder including a pusher having a cross-sectional configuration corresponding approximately to that of said part, said pusher being aligned with said passageway at its end opposite the end at which said punch is located; said parts holder including means for moving said pusher upwardly to said passageway whereby a part pushed through said passageway is captured between said punch and said pusher; means on said parts holder allowing said pusher to be forced downwardly by said punch whereby said punch can drive said part and said pusher into said parts holder.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 37 in which said parts holder includes a hinged jaw flexibly biased to a closed position; said pusher being slidably positioned within said jaw.
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) | 1977-07-29 | 1978-01-28 | 1978-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-29 | 1982-01-28 | 1982-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-29 | 1986-01-28 | 1986-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |