Article transport apparatus

Claim 1

In an apparatus of the type, wherein a plurality of chucks linked together into an endless chain are moved in an endless path by a conveying means which supports said plurality of chucks, grasping means carried by said chucks pick up articles from an article inlet station, said chuck including at least one carrier member attached to and movable by said conveying means and a main spindle slidably mounted in said carrier member, said grasping means being attached to one end of said main spindle, said chucks transport said articles through a treatment zone in single file, and said grasping means release said articles at a remote removal station after treatment, the improvement in said apparatus which comprises: a follower block attached to said main spindle; a shaft slidably mounted in a hole extending through said follower block, said shaft extending beyond said follower block on both sides thereof; a cam follower mounted on said shaft on the portion of said shaft extending beyond one side of said follower block; first cam means for holding said main spindle in a location such that said articles will be transported through said treatment zone in a preferred orientation if said grasping means pick up an article; second cam means for raising said main spindle to a location such that said grasping means will be clear of said treatment zone if said grasping means do not pick up an article, said second cam means including: a. a first inclined plate cam section positioned to contact the extending portion of said shaft opposite said cam follower only if an article is not picked up by said grasping means, said plate cam sections extending from a location adjacent the normal pick-up location of said articles to a location adjacent the end of said article inlet station, said plate cam being shaped to push the extending portion of said shaft through said follower block and thereby increase the extension of said cam follower beyond said follower block; b. a ramp cam section positioned to engage said cam follower, said ramp cam section connecting with the end of said plate cam section and terminating adjacent the beginning of said treatment zone; and c. a control cam section positioned to engage said cam follower as it leaves said ramp cam section only when said cam follower has been extended by said inclined plate cam section; and third cam means for lowering said main spindle to pick up articles at said inlet station and for raising said main spindle at said removal station.