Apparatus for handling workpieces

Claim 2

Workpiece handling apparatus comprising: A. a plurality of upright carrier assemblies, each including a post means and a holder portion for supporting a workpiece associated with said post means; B. means for abruptly shifting each holder portion with respect to the post means to a workpiece-release position and for returning each holder portion to a workpiece-engaging position; C. a bar assembly for simultaneously actuating the means for abruptly shifting a group of holder portions of the plurality of carrier assEmblies to workpiece-release positions at a discharge station; D. means supporting said plurality of carrier assemblies for continuous sequential movement along a path through a loading and said discharge stations; E. a socket beneath each holder of said group for accepting a released workpiece; and F. an adjustable chute assembly for guiding released workpieces into the sockets.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said chute assembly includes adjustably positioned upstanding guides between the sockets and said group of holder portions defining a four-sided chute above each socket.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the adjustable guide forming the front side of the chute is pivoted to a rigid support and biased toward the rear of said four-sided chute.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 including switch means in operative association with said front guide and said bar assembly.

Claim 6

Workpiece handling apparatus comprising: A. a plurality of carrier assemblies, each including: a. post means; b. a holder associated with the post means for supporting a workpiece; and c. a trip mechanism for abruptly shifting said holder to a workpiece-release position; B. means supporting said carrier assemblies for continuous sequential movement along a path through loading and discharge stations comprising: a. vertically spaced chains mounted for continuous movement through an endless path; b. guide bars adjacent each chain; c. clips for each carrier assembly slidably straddling a guide bar and secured to the post means and chains at spaced intervals for stabilizing each carrier assembly during movement with such chains; d. coaxial sprockets for said chains secured to a rotatably mounted shaft downstream of said discharge station; and e. a disc on said shaft between said sprockets adapted to trigger said trip mechanism when a holder is in a workpiece-engaging position as it passes said disc; C. a trigger assembly at the discharge station for simultaneously coacting with the holder portions of a series of adjacent carrier assemblies comprising: a. a bar in a substantially horizontal position having a length at least equal to the portion of the path occupied by said series of adjacent carrier assemblies; and b. means for cyclically pivoting said bar to actuate the trip mechanisms of said series of adjacent carrier assemblies to workpiece-release positions; D. trip mechanism reset means between the discharge and loading stations for returning the trip mechanisms to workpiece-engaging positions; E. a plurality of stationary socket members beneath said group of holder portions for accepting released workpieces; and F. an adjustable chute assembly for guiding the released workpieces into the socket members, said chute assembly including: a. adjustably positioned upright guide members between the socket members and said group of holder portions defining a four-sided chute above each socket member; and b. switch means in operative association with one of said adjustably positioned upright members and said means for cyclically pivoting the bar.

Claim 7

Workpiece handling apparatus comprising: A. a plurality of carrier assemblies, each including: a. post means; b. a holder associated with the post means for supporting a workpiece; and c. a trip mechanism for abruptly shifting said holder to a workpiece-release position; B. means supporting said carrier assemblies for continuous sequential movement along a path through loading and discharge stations comprising: a. vertically spaced chains mounted for continuous movement through an endless path; b. guide bars adjacent each chain; c. clips for each carrier assembly slidably straddling a guide bar and secured to the post means and chains at spaced intervals for stabilizing each carrier assembly during movement with such chains; d. coaxial sprockets for said chains secured to a rotatably mounted shaft downstream of said discharge station; and e. a disc on said shaft between said sprockets adapted to trigger said trip mechanism when a holder is in a workpiece-engaging position as it passes said disc; C. a trigger assembly at the discharge station for simultaneously coacting with the holder portions of a series of adjacent carrier assemblies comprising: a. a bar in a substantially horizontal position having a length at least equal to the portion of the path occupied by said series of adjacent carrier assemblies; and b. means for cyclically pivoting said bar to actuate the trip mechanisms of said series of adjacent carrier assemblies to workpiece-release positions; D. trip mechanism reset means between the discharge and loading stations for returning the trip mechanisms to workpiece-engaging positions; E. a plurality of stationary socket members beneath said group of holder portions for accepting released workpieces; and F. an adjustable chute assembly for guiding the released workpieces into the socket members, said chute assembly including: a. adjustably positioned upright guide members between the socket members and said group of holder portions defining a four-sided chute above each socket member; and b. switch means in operative association with one of said adjustably positioned upright members and said means for cyclically pivoting the bar.

Claim 8

In temperature-conditioning means comprising: A. a horizontally extending heat transfer chamber; B. support means for carrying a plurality of molded parts in side-by-side relationship during passage through said chamber; and C. means for releasably detaining said support means at a parts loading station at one end of said chamber while said parts are deposited in said support means; the combination therewith of: D. a plurality of carrier assemblies, each including: a. a holder for supporting one of said molded parts; and b. a trip mechanism for abruptly shifting said holder to a part-release position; E. means supporting said carrier assemblies for continuous sequential movement along an endless path, part of which lies above said parts loading station; F. an actuatiNg assembly for simultaneously triggering the trip mechanisms of a group of said plurality of carrier assemblies substantially corresponding to the number of places in said support means as said group of carrier assemblies pass above the loading station; and G. trip mechanism reset means downstream of said parts loading station for returning the trip mechanisms to part-engaging positions.

Claim 9

In temperature-conditioning means comprising: A. a horizontally extending heat transfer chamber; B. support means for carrying a plurality of molded parts in side-by-side relationship during passage through said chamber; and C. means for releasably detaining said support means at a parts loading station at one end of said chamber while said parts are deposited in said support means; the combination therewith of: D. a plurality of carrier assemblies, each including: a. a holder for supporting one of said molded parts; and b. a trip mechanism for abruptly shifting said holder to a part-release position; E. means supporting said carrier assemblies for continuous sequential movement along an endless path, part of which lies above said parts loading station; F. an actuatiNg assembly for simultaneously triggering the trip mechanisms of a group of said plurality of carrier assemblies substantially corresponding to the number of places in said support means as said group of carrier assemblies pass above the loading station; and G. trip mechanism reset means downstream of said parts loading station for returning the trip mechanisms to part-engaging positions.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 6 including: i. projecting means in the path of the trip mechanisms of the plurality of carrier assemblies to trip any trip mechanisms not triggered by the actuating assembly; ii. collection means beneath said projecting means to accept parts released from holders as a result of cooperation between the projecting means and trip mechanisms; iii. a chute assembly between the actuating assembly and the support means for guiding released parts into the support means, said chute assembly having a pivotally mounted side biased in a direction opposite to that of the parts passing through the chamber; and iv. switch means operatively associated with a.) the pivotally mounted side, b.) the actuating assembly and c.) the means for releasably detaining the support means at the parts loading station.

Claim 11

Workpiece handling apparatus comprising: A. a plurality of upright carrier assemblies, each including a post means and a holder portion associated with said post means for supporting a workpiece; B. means for abruptly shifting each holder portion with respect to the post means to a workpiece-release position and for returning each holder portion to a workpiece-engaging position; C. means supporting said carrier assemblies for continuous sequential movement along a path through loading and discharge stations; D. a trigger assembly at the discharge station for simultaneously coacting with portions of a series of adjacent carrier assemblies comprising: a. a bar in a substantially horizontal position having a length at least equal to the portion of the path occupied by said series of adjacent assemblies; and b. means for cyclically moving said bar to actuate the means for abruptly shifting the holder portions of said series of adjacent assemblies to workpiece-release positions; and E. socket assemblies beneath the holder portions of said series of adjacent carrier assemblies for accepting released workpieces.

Claim 12

Workpiece handling apparatus comprising: A. a plurality of upright carrier assemblies, each including a post means and a holder portion associated with said post means for supporting a workpiece; B. means for abruptly shifting each holder portion with respect to the post means to a workpiece-release position and for returning each holder portion to a workpiece-engaging position; C. means supporting said carrier assemblies for continuous sequential movement along a path through loading and discharge stations; D. a trigger assembly at the discharge station for simultaneously coacting with portions of a series of adjacent carrier assemblies comprising: a. a bar in a substantially horizontal position having a length at least equal to the portion of the path occupied by said series of adjacent assemblies; and b. means for cyclically moving said bar to actuate the means for abruptly shifting the holder portions of said series of adjacent assemblies to workpiece-release positions; and E. socket assemblies beneath the holder portions of said series of adjacent carrier assemblies for accepting released workpieces.