US3834531A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Memory device
Assignee: ANJA ENG CORP
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Filing: 1973-04-27
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Granted: 1974-09-10
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Expires: 1993-04-27
Abstract
Abstract A memory device and a method for selectively controlling the processing of articles in an automated machine performing a sequence of processing steps on the articles as they are moved through successive work stations on the machine. A wheel carries a number of uniformly spaced pins around its circumference, and is indexed in unison with the processing machine, each article being associated with a corresponding pin for the sequence of processing steps. A pin is moved to a new position with respect to the wheel on detection of an abnormality in the corresponding article; and is subsequently detected as being in this new position by appropriately disposed microswitches coupled to mechanisms to control subsequent processing steps on the abnormal article.
Inventors
- 👤 J Bollerup
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:40
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/36; B07C5/361; B07B; B07B9/00; B07B9/02; H; H01; H01H; H01H43/00; H01H43/02; H01H43/04; H01H43/06; H01H43/065; H01H43/10; H01H43/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
377 words
A memory device for controlling the processing of articles in an automated processing machine performing a sequence of processing steps on said articles at successive stations on said machine, comprising: a wheel of substantial thickness at its circumference rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis in a supporting structure and having a plurality of holes therethrough parallel to said axis and uniformly spaced around a circle concentric with said axis, there being at least as many of said holes as there are processing steps; a plurality of pins mounted in said parallel holes for axial movement therein from a normal position in which the pin protrudes from a first side of said wheel to an active position in which the pin protrudes from the opposite side of said wheel; indexing means mechanically linked to said processing machine, for advancing said wheel in unison with the performance of said processing steps, whereby eaCh of said pins is successively moved through a sequence of positions corresponding to said sequence of processing steps; inspection probe means for detecting certain abnormalities in said articles at preselected ones of said stations; a plurality of solenoid-operated fluid valves, each responsive to signals from one of said inspection probe means; a plurality of cylinders each having a piston rod and a piston actuated by fluid supplied through one of said valves, said cylinders being located in relation to said first side of said wheel at angular positions corresponding to said preselected stations, and said piston rods being generally aligned with corresponding pins at said angular positions to move said pins to their active position in response to said signals from corresponding inspection probe means; a plurality microswitches for detecting those of said pins in said active position, arranged in relation to said opposite side of said wheel at angular positions corresponding to processing steps subsequent to at least one of said preselected stations; control means for said subsequent processing steps, coupled to corresponding ones of said microswitches to selectively control processing on those of said articles with said certain abnormalities; and a resetting cylinder having a fluid actuated piston positioned to reset each of said pins to said normal position on completion of the movement of each of said pins through said sequence of positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
377 words
A memory device for controlling the processing of articles in an automated processing machine performing a sequence of processing steps on said articles at successive stations on said machine, comprising: a wheel of substantial thickness at its circumference rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis in a supporting structure and having a plurality of holes therethrough parallel to said axis and uniformly spaced around a circle concentric with said axis, there being at least as many of said holes as there are processing steps; a plurality of pins mounted in said parallel holes for axial movement therein from a normal position in which the pin protrudes from a first side of said wheel to an active position in which the pin protrudes from the opposite side of said wheel; indexing means mechanically linked to said processing machine, for advancing said wheel in unison with the performance of said processing steps, whereby eaCh of said pins is successively moved through a sequence of positions corresponding to said sequence of processing steps; inspection probe means for detecting certain abnormalities in said articles at preselected ones of said stations; a plurality of solenoid-operated fluid valves, each responsive to signals from one of said inspection probe means; a plurality of cylinders each having a piston rod and a piston actuated by fluid supplied through one of said valves, said cylinders being located in relation to said first side of said wheel at angular positions corresponding to said preselected stations, and said piston rods being generally aligned with corresponding pins at said angular positions to move said pins to their active position in response to said signals from corresponding inspection probe means; a plurality microswitches for detecting those of said pins in said active position, arranged in relation to said opposite side of said wheel at angular positions corresponding to processing steps subsequent to at least one of said preselected stations; control means for said subsequent processing steps, coupled to corresponding ones of said microswitches to selectively control processing on those of said articles with said certain abnormalities; and a resetting cylinder having a fluid actuated piston positioned to reset each of said pins to said normal position on completion of the movement of each of said pins through said sequence of positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
135 words
The device defined in claim 1, wherein said indexing means comprises: a toothed ratchet wheel mounted on said wheel axis for rotation with said pin wheel; an indexing plate mounted on said axis for rotation independently of said pin wheel and said ratchet wheel; a reciprocating rod pivotally connected to said indexing plate to impart an angular oscillatory motion thereto, said rod being mechanically linked to said processing machine; a first pawl element mounted on said indexing plate to engage said ratchet wheel as the plate moves in a forward direction, thereby driving said pin wheel in said forward direction; and a second pawl element mounted on said supporting structure to engage said ratchet wheel as said indexing plate moves in a reverse direction, thereby preventing movement of said pin wheel in said reverse direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
The device defined in claim 1, further including: an additional microswitch for detecting those of said pins in said normal position, and positioned with respect to said wheel immediately prior to said pin resetting cylinder; and counting means coupled to said additional microswitch, to accumulate a count of those of said pins completing a revolution of said wheel in said normal position, whereby said count includes only those of said articles not subject to said certain abnormalities.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device defined in claim 1, wherein said control means include: a second group of solenoid-operated air valves connected to corresponding microswitches; and mechanical means actuated by air supplied from said second group of valves to selectively control processing on those of said articles with said certain abnormalities.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device defined in claim 4, wherein said mechanical means include a pivotally mounted flap movable to sort those of said articles with said certain abnormalities from others of said articles leaving said processing machine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
The device defined in claim 1, wherein: said wheel has a plurality of radial holes extending from said circumference to intersect with corresponding ones of said holes parallel with said axis; said pins each have a flat surface over a central portion; and said device further includes a plurality of plugs fitted and secured in said radial holes to bear against said flat surfaces to permit only limited axial movement of said pins between said normal and active positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
262 words
A memory device for controlling the processing of articles in an automated procEssing machine for performing a sequence of steps on said articles at successive stations on said machine, comprising: a wheel rotatably mounted in a supporting structure; a plurality of pins carried by said wheel at spaced positions around the circumference of the wheel and secured to the wheel to be movable between a normal position and an active position, there being at least as many of said pins as there are stations on said machine; indexing means connected with said processing machine, for advancing said wheel in unison with the performance of said steps, whereby each of said pins is successively moved through a sequence of positions corresponding to said sequence of processing steps, said indexing means including ratchet means for advancing said wheel and linkage means for connecting said ratchet means for operation thereof in unison with the movement of said articles between said successive stations; means for moving said pins to said active position as said pins reach angular positions corresponding to preselected ones of said stations, said pin moving means being responsive to certain abnormalities in said articles detected at said corresponding preselected stations; detection means responsive to those of said pins in said active position, disposed at preselected angular positions corresponding to processing steps subsequent to at least one of said preselected stations, and coupled to control said corresponding subsequent processing steps; and means for resetting said pins back to said normal position as each of said pins completes its movement through said sequence of positions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
262 words
A memory device for controlling the processing of articles in an automated procEssing machine for performing a sequence of steps on said articles at successive stations on said machine, comprising: a wheel rotatably mounted in a supporting structure; a plurality of pins carried by said wheel at spaced positions around the circumference of the wheel and secured to the wheel to be movable between a normal position and an active position, there being at least as many of said pins as there are stations on said machine; indexing means connected with said processing machine, for advancing said wheel in unison with the performance of said steps, whereby each of said pins is successively moved through a sequence of positions corresponding to said sequence of processing steps, said indexing means including ratchet means for advancing said wheel and linkage means for connecting said ratchet means for operation thereof in unison with the movement of said articles between said successive stations; means for moving said pins to said active position as said pins reach angular positions corresponding to preselected ones of said stations, said pin moving means being responsive to certain abnormalities in said articles detected at said corresponding preselected stations; detection means responsive to those of said pins in said active position, disposed at preselected angular positions corresponding to processing steps subsequent to at least one of said preselected stations, and coupled to control said corresponding subsequent processing steps; and means for resetting said pins back to said normal position as each of said pins completes its movement through said sequence of positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The device defined in claim 7, wherein: said pin moving means and said pin resetting means comprise fluid-actuated cylinders each having a piston and a piston rod, said piston rod extending in operation to move a corresponding one of said pins; and said detection means comprise a plurality of microswitches mounted on said supporting structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
The device defined in claim 7, further including: second detection means responsive to those of said pins in said normal position and positioned with respect to said wheel immediately prior to said pin resetting means; and counting means coupled to said second detection means, to accumulate a count of those of said pins completing a revolution of said wheel in said normal position, whereby said count includes only those of said articles not subject to said certain abnormalities.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The device defined in claim 7, further including: inspection probe means coupled respectively to said pin moving means, for detecting said certain abnormalities at said corresponding preselected stations; and means coupled respectively to said detection means, for selectively controlling said corresponding subsequent processing steps on those of said articles with said certain abnormalities.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device defined in claim 10, wherein said controlling means include article sorting means for separating those of said articles with said certain abnormalities from others of said articles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device defined in claim 11, wherein said controlling means further include means for selectively disabling said subsequent processing steps.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
287 words
A memory device for controlling the processing of articles in an automated machine performing a sequence of processing steps on said articles at successive stations on said machine, comprising: a plurality of memory elements, each having a normal memory condition and an active memory condition; conveyer means for carrying said memory elements at spaced positions around a continuous path; indexing means operatively associated with said machine, for advancing said conveyer means one position per processing step in unison with said machine, whereby each of said memory elements is associated with one of said articles being processed and is successively moved through a sequence of positions corresponding to said sequence of processing steps at said Stations; means for setting said memory elements in said active condition as said elements reach positions corresponding to preselected ones of said stations, said setting means being responsive to certain abnormalities in said articles detected at said corresponding preselected stations; detection means responsive to those of said memory elements in said active condition, disposed at positions corresponding to processing steps subsequent to at least one of said preselected stations, and coupled to control corresponding subsequent processing steps; means for resetting said memory elements to said normal memory condition as each of said elements completes its movement through said sequence of positions; second detection means responsive to those of said memory elements in said normal condition and positioned with respect to said conveyor path immediately prior to said memory element resetting means; and counting means coupled to said second detection means, to accumulate a count of those of said memory elements completing said conveyer path in said normal condition, whereby said count includes only those of said articles not subject to said certain abnormalities.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
287 words
A memory device for controlling the processing of articles in an automated machine performing a sequence of processing steps on said articles at successive stations on said machine, comprising: a plurality of memory elements, each having a normal memory condition and an active memory condition; conveyer means for carrying said memory elements at spaced positions around a continuous path; indexing means operatively associated with said machine, for advancing said conveyer means one position per processing step in unison with said machine, whereby each of said memory elements is associated with one of said articles being processed and is successively moved through a sequence of positions corresponding to said sequence of processing steps at said Stations; means for setting said memory elements in said active condition as said elements reach positions corresponding to preselected ones of said stations, said setting means being responsive to certain abnormalities in said articles detected at said corresponding preselected stations; detection means responsive to those of said memory elements in said active condition, disposed at positions corresponding to processing steps subsequent to at least one of said preselected stations, and coupled to control corresponding subsequent processing steps; means for resetting said memory elements to said normal memory condition as each of said elements completes its movement through said sequence of positions; second detection means responsive to those of said memory elements in said normal condition and positioned with respect to said conveyor path immediately prior to said memory element resetting means; and counting means coupled to said second detection means, to accumulate a count of those of said memory elements completing said conveyer path in said normal condition, whereby said count includes only those of said articles not subject to said certain abnormalities.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
The device defined in claim 13, further including: inspection probe means coupled respectively to said memory element setting means for detecting said certain abnormalities at said corresponding preselected stations; and means coupled respectively to said detection means, for selectively controlling said corresponding subsequent processing steps on those of said articles with said certain abnormalities.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device defined in claim 13, wherein said controlling means include article sorting means for separating those of said articles with said certain abnormalities from others of said articles.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device defined in claim 15, wherein said controlling means further include means for selectively disabling said subsequent processing steps.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
195 words
A memory device for controlling the processing of articles in an automated machine performing a sequence of processing steps on said articles at successive stations on said machine, comprising: a plurality of memory elements each having a normal memory condition and an active memory condition; means for associating each of said articles being processed with a corresponding one of said memory elements for the duration of said sequence of processing steps; means for setting said memory elements in said active condition in response to detection, at preselected ones of said stations, of certain abnormalities in corresponding articles; means for detecting those of said memory elements in said active condition, coupled to control subsequent processing steps on those of said articles having said certain abnormalities; means for resetting said memory elements to said normal condition as the corresponding articles complete said sequence of processing steps; inspection probe means coupled respectively to said memory element setting means, for detecting said certain abnormalities at said preselected stations; and means coupled respectively to said means for detecting memory elements in said active condition, for selectively controlling said subsequent processing steps on those of said articles having said certain abnormalities.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
195 words
A memory device for controlling the processing of articles in an automated machine performing a sequence of processing steps on said articles at successive stations on said machine, comprising: a plurality of memory elements each having a normal memory condition and an active memory condition; means for associating each of said articles being processed with a corresponding one of said memory elements for the duration of said sequence of processing steps; means for setting said memory elements in said active condition in response to detection, at preselected ones of said stations, of certain abnormalities in corresponding articles; means for detecting those of said memory elements in said active condition, coupled to control subsequent processing steps on those of said articles having said certain abnormalities; means for resetting said memory elements to said normal condition as the corresponding articles complete said sequence of processing steps; inspection probe means coupled respectively to said memory element setting means, for detecting said certain abnormalities at said preselected stations; and means coupled respectively to said means for detecting memory elements in said active condition, for selectively controlling said subsequent processing steps on those of said articles having said certain abnormalities.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device defined in claim 17, wherein said means for selectively controlling said subsequent processing steps include article sorting means for separating those of said articles with said certain abnormalities from others of said articles.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device defined in claim 18, wherein said means for selectively controlling said subsequent processing steps further include means for selectively disabling said subsequent processing steps.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
181 words
A memory device for controlling the processing of articles in an automated machine performing a sequence of processing steps on said articles at successive stations on said machine, comprising: a plurality of memory elements each having a normal memory condition and an active memory condition; means for associating each of said articles being processed with a corresponding one of said memory elements for the duration of said sequence of processing steps; means for setting said memory elements in said active condition in response to detection, at preselected ones of said stations, of certain abnormalities in corresponding articles; means for detecting those of said memory elements in said active condition, coupled to control subsequent processing steps on those of said articles having said certain abnormalities; means for resetting said memory elements to said normal condition as the corresponding articles complete said sequence of processing steps; means for detecting those of said memory elements in said normal condition; and counting means coupled to said normal condition detection means for accumulating a count of those of said articles not subject to said certain abnormalities.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
181 words
A memory device for controlling the processing of articles in an automated machine performing a sequence of processing steps on said articles at successive stations on said machine, comprising: a plurality of memory elements each having a normal memory condition and an active memory condition; means for associating each of said articles being processed with a corresponding one of said memory elements for the duration of said sequence of processing steps; means for setting said memory elements in said active condition in response to detection, at preselected ones of said stations, of certain abnormalities in corresponding articles; means for detecting those of said memory elements in said active condition, coupled to control subsequent processing steps on those of said articles having said certain abnormalities; means for resetting said memory elements to said normal condition as the corresponding articles complete said sequence of processing steps; means for detecting those of said memory elements in said normal condition; and counting means coupled to said normal condition detection means for accumulating a count of those of said articles not subject to said certain abnormalities.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
182 words
A method for controlling the processing of articles in an automated processing machine performing a sequence of processing steps on said articles moved through successive stations on said machine, comprising the steps of: associating each of said articles being processed with a corresponding one of a plurality of memory elements; setting appropriate ones of said memory elements in an active memory condition in response to detection of certain abnormalities in said articles at preselected ones of said stations; detecting memory elements set in said active condition; controlling subsequent processing steps in a predetermined manner in response to elements in said active condition as detected by said step of detecting, said controlling step including disabling some of said subsequent processing steps to prevent unnecessary processing and damage to said articles having said certain abnormalities, and sorting those of said articles having said certain abnormalities from others of said articles leaving said processing machine; and counting those of said memory elements set in said active condition, whereby said step of counting accumulates a count of those of said articles not having said certain abnormalities.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
182 words
A method for controlling the processing of articles in an automated processing machine performing a sequence of processing steps on said articles moved through successive stations on said machine, comprising the steps of: associating each of said articles being processed with a corresponding one of a plurality of memory elements; setting appropriate ones of said memory elements in an active memory condition in response to detection of certain abnormalities in said articles at preselected ones of said stations; detecting memory elements set in said active condition; controlling subsequent processing steps in a predetermined manner in response to elements in said active condition as detected by said step of detecting, said controlling step including disabling some of said subsequent processing steps to prevent unnecessary processing and damage to said articles having said certain abnormalities, and sorting those of said articles having said certain abnormalities from others of said articles leaving said processing machine; and counting those of said memory elements set in said active condition, whereby said step of counting accumulates a count of those of said articles not having said certain abnormalities.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2962655A
Cited
US3394584A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-09 | 1978-03-11 | 1978-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-09 | 1982-03-11 | 1982-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-09 | 1986-03-11 | 1986-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |