Work transfer apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for the transfer of work between two mutually spaced stations comprising: a. a stationary main housing; b. an operator shaft mounted in said main housing for rotational movement between two angularly spaced positions; c. a sweep arm extending in a plane substantiaLly normal to the axis of said operator shaft; d. means connecting one end of said sweep arm to said operator shaft for rotational motion therewith and for linear movement longitudinally of said operator shaft; e. a work gripper assembly including a work gripper tool operatively connected to the other end of said sweep arm, said assembly further including means for operating said work gripper tool to engage a workpiece with said sweep arm disposed in one of said angularly spaced positions and to release said workpiece with said sweep arm disposed in the other of said angularly spaced positions; f. drive means operatively connected to said sweep arm and said operator shaft to impart angular movement to said sweep arm between said two angularly spaced positions and linear movement to said sweep arm between two longitudinally spaced positions along said operator shaft; and g. means for sequentially actuating said drive means to locate said gripper tool at one of said stations during one phase of its operating cycle and at the other of said stations during another phase of said operating cycle.

Claim 3

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 including a splined interconnection between said operator shaft and said one end of said sweep arm and said drive means includes a fluid motor connected between said main housing and said sweep arm for imparting said linear movement thereto.

Claim 4

Apparatus as recited in claim 2 including means associated with said fluid motor for selectively adjusting the extent of linear movement of said sweep arm with respect to said main housing.

Claim 5

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 including a secondary housing fixedly attached to the other end of said sweep arm for connecting said work gripper assembly thereto and said drive means includes means for imparting linear motion to said assembly in relation to said secondary housing.

Claim 6

Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said linear motion imparting means includes a second fluid motor connected between said secondary housing and said gripper assembly.

Claim 7

Apparatus as recited in claim 5 including means associated with said second fluid motor for selectively adjusting the extent of linear movement of said gripper assembly with respect to said secondary housing.

Claim 8

Apparatus as recited in claim 4 including a second operator shaft operatively disposed in said secondary housing and extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said first operator shaft and means for slidably attaching said gripper assembly to one end of said second operator shaft.

Claim 9

Apparatus as recited in claim 7 including a sleeve member telescopically disposed on the end of second operator shaft, said gripper assembly attached to the end of said sleeve, and a splined interconnection between said second operator shaft and said sleeve.

Claim 10

Apparatus as recited in claim 8 in which said drive means includes means for selectively rotating said second operator shaft.

Claim 11

Apparatus as recited in claim 8 in which said gripper assembly includes a gripper tool mount connected for pivotal movement to said sleeve and said drive means includes means for selectively pivoting said gripper tool mount with respect to said sleeve.

Claim 12

Apparatus for the transfer of a workpiece containing frangible parts from a production station to at least two spacedly disposed receiving stations for accepting each of said parts, said apparatus comprising: a. a stationary main housing; b. an operator shaft mounted in said main housing for rotational movement; c. a work gripper assembly including a gripping tool and means for operating the same to engage said workpiece when said tool is operatively disposed at said production station and to release said workpiece when said tool is operatively disposed at one of said receiving stations; d. a sweep arm extending in a plane substantially normal to the axis of said operator shaft, one end of said sweep arm connecting said work gripper assembly and the other end beiNg attached for rotational movement with said operator shaft and for linear movement therealong; e. first drive means for rotating said operator shaft between two angularly spaced positions, one of which locates said gripping tool at said production station and the other locates said gripping tool at said one receiving station; f. second drive means for linearly moving said sweep arm along said operator shaft a distance equal to the space between said two receiving stations; g. third drive means for linearly moving said work gripper assembly with respect to said end of said sweep arm; and h. control means for sequentially actuating said drive means for operating said work gripper assembly for gripping said workpiece, for severing the parts thereof, and for depositing said parts to the respective receiving stations.

Claim 13

Apparatus for the transfer of a workpiece containing frangible parts from a production station to at least two spacedly disposed receiving stations for accepting each of said parts, said apparatus comprising: a. a stationary main housing; b. an operator shaft mounted in said main housing for rotational movement; c. a work gripper assembly including a gripping tool and means for operating the same to engage said workpiece when said tool is operatively disposed at said production station and to release said workpiece when said tool is operatively disposed at one of said receiving stations; d. a sweep arm extending in a plane substantially normal to the axis of said operator shaft, one end of said sweep arm connecting said work gripper assembly and the other end beiNg attached for rotational movement with said operator shaft and for linear movement therealong; e. first drive means for rotating said operator shaft between two angularly spaced positions, one of which locates said gripping tool at said production station and the other locates said gripping tool at said one receiving station; f. second drive means for linearly moving said sweep arm along said operator shaft a distance equal to the space between said two receiving stations; g. third drive means for linearly moving said work gripper assembly with respect to said end of said sweep arm; and h. control means for sequentially actuating said drive means for operating said work gripper assembly for gripping said workpiece, for severing the parts thereof, and for depositing said parts to the respective receiving stations.