US3836017A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for transferring articles between a conveyor and a stack
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-06-13
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Granted: 1974-09-17
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Expires: 1992-06-13
Abstract
Abstract The conveyor is disposed on a predetermined level. The height of the stack is changed by the transfer of articles by said apparatus. Pivotal mounting means are vertically movably mounted on a frame and define a horizontal axis. A rocker arm assembly is pivoted to said mounting means on said axis for a rocking movement through substantially 180* and has an outer end which is remote from said pivotal axis. A gripper is carried by said rocker arm assembly at said outer end and adapted to hold articles. Vertical drive means are provided to adjust said pivotal axis in height during a rocking movement of said rocker arm assembly. Rocking drive means cooperate with said pivotal mounting means to impart to said rocker arm assembly a pivotal movement through 180*. connecting means are connected between said vertical drive means and said rocking drive means and serve to impart to said rocker arm assembly a rocking movement in dependence on the vertical movement of said pivotal mounting means. Means are provided to define a reference level which is spaced a predetermined vertical distance above said stack.
Inventors
- 👤 G Bargstedt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:22
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/50; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/10; Y10S414/112
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
280 words
Apparatus for transferring articles between a conveyor disposed on a predetermined level and a stack of articles in order to change the height of said stack, said appraratus comprising a frame, pivotal mounting means vertically movably mounted on said frame and defining a horizontal pivotal axis, a rocker arm assembly pivotally mounted to said mounting means on said axis for rocking movement through substantially 180* and having an outer end remote from said pivotal axis, a gripper carried by said rocker arm assembly at said outer end and adapted to hold articles, vertical drive means for reciprocally adjusting the vertical height of said pivotal axis during rocking movement of said rocker arm assembly, rocking drive means cooperating with said pivotal mounting means to impart to said rocker arm assembly pivotal movement through 180*, connecting means arranged between said vertical drive means and said rocking drive means to impart to said rocker arm assembly a rocking movement in dependence upon the vertical reciprocal movement of said pivotal mounting means, means for sensing the height of said stack, and means associated with said vertical drive means for determining in response to said stack height sensing means the uppermost position of said pivotal mounting means at a level relative to the height of said stack, said vertical drive means and said rocking drive means being operatively positioned in a superposed arrangement relative to each other in such a manner that, as a result of said superposed arrangement, the vertical positioning of said pivotal axis is adjusted simultaneously during rocking movement of said rocker arm assembly with the vertical location of said pivotal axis being varied as a function of the sensed stack height.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
280 words
Apparatus for transferring articles between a conveyor disposed on a predetermined level and a stack of articles in order to change the height of said stack, said appraratus comprising a frame, pivotal mounting means vertically movably mounted on said frame and defining a horizontal pivotal axis, a rocker arm assembly pivotally mounted to said mounting means on said axis for rocking movement through substantially 180* and having an outer end remote from said pivotal axis, a gripper carried by said rocker arm assembly at said outer end and adapted to hold articles, vertical drive means for reciprocally adjusting the vertical height of said pivotal axis during rocking movement of said rocker arm assembly, rocking drive means cooperating with said pivotal mounting means to impart to said rocker arm assembly pivotal movement through 180*, connecting means arranged between said vertical drive means and said rocking drive means to impart to said rocker arm assembly a rocking movement in dependence upon the vertical reciprocal movement of said pivotal mounting means, means for sensing the height of said stack, and means associated with said vertical drive means for determining in response to said stack height sensing means the uppermost position of said pivotal mounting means at a level relative to the height of said stack, said vertical drive means and said rocking drive means being operatively positioned in a superposed arrangement relative to each other in such a manner that, as a result of said superposed arrangement, the vertical positioning of said pivotal axis is adjusted simultaneously during rocking movement of said rocker arm assembly with the vertical location of said pivotal axis being varied as a function of the sensed stack height.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vertical drive means comprise a crank member and a rectilinear drive mechanism including an elongated first drive element and a second drive element operatively connected to and movable along said first drive element, said crank member having a variable effective length one end of which is defined by said second drive element, and a drive motor connected to said first drive element and operable to move said second drive element along said first drive element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, in which said first drive element comprises a screw and said second drive element comprises a nut threaded on said screw.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, in which said first drive element comprises a rack and said second drive element comprises a pinion in mesh with said rack.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, which comprises a freely rotatable chain sprocket connected to the second drive element, and a chain trained around said chain sprocket, one end of said chain being connected to said pivotal mounting means, the other end of said chain being connected to said second end of said crank member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, in which said crank member consists of a double crank, a pivot pin is mounted in the frame, said crank member is mounted on said pivot pin and consists of a double crank extending on both sides of said pivot pin, a drive motor for driving said drive mechanism is carried by said crank member at one end, and said chain is connected to the same end of said crank member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, in which a square shaft is provided, which is operatively connected to said crank mechanism, said pivotal mounting means comprise a stub shaft which is rotatable to rock said rocker arm assembly, a bevel gearing is interconnected between said square shaft and said stub shaft and comprises an input bevel wheel, which is slidably mounted on said square shaft, said input bevel wheel is mounted in a housing, which cArries said stub shaft, and a torque-transmitting member is connected between said square shaft and said housing and carries four rollers adapted to roll on respective sides of said square shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, in which said frame carries a horizontal stub shaft, said double crank is mounted on said stub shaft and carries a cam slot, a slide block is guided in said cam slot, a constraining member is vertically guided on said frame, a rod is connected to said slide block and pivoted to said constraining member and said vertical drive means are connected to said constraining member and operable to adjust the same in a vertical direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, in which said double crank is provided with a rack, a pinion is in mesh with said rack, a drive motor is connected to said pinion to move the same along said rack in order to change the effective length of said double crank, and a second rack is pivoted to said frame and in mesh with said pinion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
152 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said rocking drive means comprise a crank mechanism mounted in said frame and a drive shaft for said crank mechanism, said drive shaft and said crank of said vertical drive means extend vertically, said frame comprises vertical guides, a cross-member is guided on said vertical guides and carries said drive shaft and said crank member, a chain is connected to said crank member and operable to drive the same and connected to said pivotal mounting means, and said pivotal mounting means comprise a rocking shaft which is rotatable to rock said rocker arm assembly, a rod is connected to said rocking shaft and operable by said crank mechanism to rotate said rocking shaft, and said crank mechanism is arranged so that said rocker arm assembly is in one end position of its rocking movement when said rod is aligned with said crank member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 10, in which said crank mechanism comprises a capstan head and said rod consists of a rack which is pivoted to said capstan head.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 10, in which said chain is connected to an abutment, said pivotal mounting means comprise a bearing plate vertically movably mounted on said frame, and said abutment is adjustably mounted on said bearing plate for a selection of the reference height over said conveyor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 12, which comprises an adjusting means connected between said frame and said abutment, and means for intermittently adjusting said adjusting means in step with the movement of said rocker arm assembly, said adjusting means being arranged to impart to said gripper initial and final strokes, respectively, when said rocker arm assembly reaches its two end positions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 10, in which said crank mechanism comprises a crank which is parallel to the crank member of said vertical drive means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which a rope pulley is mounted in an upper portion of said frame, a rope is trained around said rope pulley and on one side of said pulley is connected to said vertically movable rocker arm assembly at a point disposed between said gripper and said pivotal axis and spaced from the latter, and a counterweight is connected to said rope on the other side of said pulley to exert by means of said rope an opposing moment on said rocker arm assembly.
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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) | 1977-09-16 | 1978-03-18 | 1978-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-16 | 1982-03-18 | 1982-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-16 | 1986-03-18 | 1986-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |